Bathurst is a city in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, approximately 200 kilometres west-northwest of Sydney. Founded in 1815, it is Australia's oldest inland settlement and serves as the seat of the Bathurst Regional Council. The city had a population of 44,621 in 2023 and attracts over one million visitors annually.
Mount Panorama, a 6.2-kilometre racing circuit with 23 corners, is Bathurst's most famous landmark. The track hosts the Bathurst 1000, one of Australia's premier motorsport events, and is open to the public as a road with a 60 km/h speed limit when races are not scheduled. The National Motor Racing Museum, located at the circuit entrance, displays over 100 racing cars and motorcycles. Other notable attractions include the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum in an 1876 school building, the Bathurst Courthouse (opened 1880), and Machattie Park, which opened in 1890 on the site of the former jail and features a fountain, lake, and gardens.
The city preserves several heritage buildings reflecting its long history, including the Royal Hotel from the 1840s and Carrington House, built in 1889. Abercrombie House, a 40-room Scottish Baronial mansion constructed between 1870 and 1878, sits 7 kilometres from the city centre. The War Memorial Carillon, erected in 1933, stands in the Town Square. Bathurst is located on Wiradjuri Country and the Bathurst Regional Council manages civic services including libraries, waste management, and visitor information facilities.