The heritage walk

Wander past our history

Hay has a number of heritage buildings in the main street, and the heritage walk takes you around to all of these.

1. Sunbeam Coach: Built by Henry Proctor, and is one of the Cobb & Co Coaches.
2. Horse Trough: Two concrete troughs, the gift of the estate of Annis & George Bills, were installed in Hay in 1938, one at each end of Lachlan Street. Later on they were moved, and one now sits on the corner of Lachlan and Moppett Streets.
3. Witcombe Fountain: Donated by John Witcombe, mayor of Hay, in 1883. Still in its original position.
4. Shire Office: Built by the Witcombe Brothers in 1877 to be Hay's second courthouse. Swapped in the Athenaeum building to become the Athenaeum in 1885. The north wing was removed in 1933, and the old Commonwealth Bank erected (now replaced). The Hay Municipal Council leased the building for Council Chambers in 1942. The Library was re-housed in 1965.
5. Lands Office: Built by Mr McDonald in 1896, to designs by W.L Vernon, on the site of Hay's first Post Office. Architecturally very important, as it was one of the first designed for the outback climate. Walls and roof are corrugated iron; ventilation is by ceiling grills and floor level hatches. Restored in 1987.
6. Post Office: erected in 1881 by Robert Duncan for E Noble & Co, to plans by James Barnett. The clock tower was added in 1901. The building is of brick, stuccoed on the front façade and side verandahs. The site of Hay's first (1860) courthouse and lock up.
7. Westpac Bank: Built in stuccoed brick by Witcombe Bros. in 1877 for the AJS Bank. In 1910 became the Australian Bank of Commerce, in 1931 became the Bank of NSW, and in 1982 the name changed to Westpac.
8. Foodworks- Formerly Tuckerbag: Originally this store was Meakes & Wheeler's, built in 1897 by Sylvander & Butterworth. Twice partially destroyed by fire, in 1897 and 1916, it was restored both times. Owned for many years by the Tyson family, then sold in 1925 and the adjoining Union Bank Hotel premises in Bank Street purchased and demolished to allow extension. Special features include the light wells in the ceiling and the verandah roofing iron posts and lace work.
9. St Andrew's Presbyterian Church: Designed by the Witcombe Bros in 1872. Mr Franklin, who built the first Hay Bridge, designed the tower and spire. The spire was capped with copper in 1978. The adjoining vestry and school room were built in 1892.
10. Presentation Convent: This was built by John Witcombe in 1900 for Susan Tyson. Built of weatherboard, it features French roof tiles, Wunderlinch inside paneling and a beautiful painted glass door. Purchased by the Sisters of the Presentation Order in 1921, it was their convent until 1993 when they withdrew the Order from Hay after 110 years.
11. St Mary's Catholic School: Opened by the Sisters in 1883, all of the original buildings have been replaced.
12. Old Catholic Presbytery: built of brick by M.J Ward in 1881 to the design of Fred Harrison, to accommodate the priest. Now privately owned and divided into two flats. The building behind was once the old police residence, and moved to the site in 1991.
13. St. Paul's Anglican Church: Built in 1885, it continued for 100 years with the status as Pro Cathedral for the Diocese of the Riverina. A fire destroyed a fresco painting, painted by Bishop Anderson in 1912. The Building was renovated in 1991. A time capsule was put there in 1972 and opened in 2000. It was sealed again and is to be opened in 2025.
14. Courthouse.
15. Public Works Department: Built in 1909 by Dixon & Butterworth to be the Sergeant's quarters for the nearby police station.
16. Old Lock-Up: Cellblock and exercise yard adjoin the Keepers residence. No longer used for police purposes, the building is now used by Home and Community Care, and the Southern Riverina Rural Advisory Service.
17. Old Fire Station: The fire station was built by Butterworth's in 1917 and replaced in 1989.
18. Majestic Theatre: Built in 1932 as a picture theatre for P.L. Brown. The building was constructed partly from the iron from the old Federal Hall, which had been in Alma Street. Has been a hardware store since 1991.
19. Paragon Restaurant: Built in 1924 by Kell & Rogby, architect J.H Robertson, it has been owned by the Panaretto family since 1932. It features Wunderlich pressed metal ceilings throughout and is now a Chinese restaurant.
20. Japp's Pharmacy: This was built in 1913 by Andrew Duncan and Victor Sylvander, and housed a saddlery and tailor in those days. The previous building on the site, the Palace Emporium was destroyed by fire in 1912. It has been a pharmacy since the early 1930's.

Oldest known building in Hay:

Caledonian Hotel: It was in operation by 1862 when the landlord was T.E Blewett. Church services were conducted in it for some time before St Andrew's Presbyterian Church opened in 1872. A serious fire in that year destroyed the billiard room, kitchen, pantry, numerous bedrooms and the commercial school room, which had been used by the Presbyterians till their church was ready. Fortunately a large part of the hotel was saved, and was restored soon after.

It has been extensively renovated over the past fifty years.

Click here to get the heritage walk map