Goulburn - home to the Big Merino
November 29th 2007 09:30
Ideally situated off the Hume Highway, 190 kilometres south-west of Sydney and within easy reach of Canberra, the South Coast and the Snowy Mountains - the cathedral city of Goulburn and its district combines the benefit of city services with a country lifestyle.
Goulburn is Australia's first inland city and its tourist attractions such as the St Saviour's Cathedral, New South Wales Police College, The Court House, Kingsdale Winery and railway station is testament to the city's rich heritage.
The 27,003 (Census 2004) residents enjoy four distinct seasons with hot dry summers, followed by spectacular autumn colours, traditional cold climate winters and a blossoming spring.
Due to its location, the district is an increasingly sought after getaway for frazzled city dwellers.
Without a doubt the biggest tourist attraction of Goulburn is the Big Merino, a 15.2 metre high, 18 metres long and weighing 97 tonnes cement merino sheep that is a impressively life-like model of Rambo. The complex was opened on September 20, 1985 and took six months to build.
Visible from miles away on the Old Hume Highway, it was the one landmark that everyone passing along the highway from Sydney to Canberra could not miss. Sadly, this was all changed when the new Hume Highway built in 1992 bypassed this popular landmark, robbing the Merino and its owners of upwards of one hundred visitors per day.
In 2007, the Big Merino was moved to a location closer to the Hume highway to increase visitor numbers and is now located at a Mobil service station and Subway diner.
The relocation included a refurbishment of the souvenir shop and display room.
The relocation of the Big Merino
For those that enjoy their wines, Kingsdale Wines is a boutique winery and vineyard, situated adjacent to Lake Sooley on the Southern Tablelands of NSW near the historic city of Goulburn is not to be missed. The property is 700 m above sea level and enjoys a fresh mountain climate with mild summers and cool winters.
The vineyard was established in 2001/2002, the Shiraz being planted in 2001 and the whites and Merlot in 2002. The first commercial harvest was in 2005, and the wines from this are now available from the cellar door or by mail order.
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Comment by Stanley
Comment by Michaelie
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Michaelie
Comment by Lilla
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Good to hear about the improvements of old road trip haunts... wow... Glad to hear about old minny (merino) being moved on, it would have been criminal to put him out to pasture. I'm sorry to hear that the rain still isn't falling there though.
A little birdie tells me that that vineyard makes a lovely drop of red... may have to look into mail order here?
Lilla ...
Comment by Arnold
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I have some great memories of the Big Merino too Stanley.
We're the lucky country Michaelie!
I still missed the Big Merino on my previous trip past Goulburn in September. It's a shame it'll never be as prominent as it was in the 80s.
And yes, I have heard some nice things about Kingsdale Wines. I hope you like it when you get around to mail ordering, Lilla!