Bathurst is fortunate to have 3 unique historic homes that are open to the public at various times.  Each one offers an insight into life in a different era.  Visitors to the city can visit all three of these properties with an Historic Home Pass. 

Abercrombie House resonates with local history and is a masterpiece of Tudor Gothic architecture - one of Bathurst's treasures.  The 52 room mansion is located just out of Bathurst on land that was granted to Major General William Stewart in 1827.  His son James Horne Stewart built the house, which was originally called 'The Mount', over a period of 8 years using local stone and cedar.  Completed in 1878 features include 30 fireplaces, 7 staircases, a ballroom with an 8.6metre ceiling and of course 52 rooms.

After some years of neglect the house was purchased by the present owner Mr Rex Morgan who set about restoring it to its former glory.  Recently the ballroom was refurbished by Rex's son and daughter-in-law, Christopher and Xanthe Morgan, with many painstaking hours spent applying gold leaf to that high ceiling.  The result is spectacular.  Tours of the house are conducted by Christopher or a member of the family most weekends with the exception of the winter months.

Slightly less grand but of significance to local history is Georgian inspired property, Miss Traill's House.  It is originally built in 1845 for the Reverend Thomas Sharpe when the town of Bathurst was beginning to develop some substance.  In 1930 Miss Ida Traill moved into the house with her mother and they surrounded themselves with memorabilia of their pioneering ancestors the well known Kite and Lee families who were amongst the first to be selected by Governor Macquarie to settle the Kelso district in 1818.  Upon Miss Traill's death in 1976 the house was bequeathed to the National Trust who have managed and maintained it since then.  The house is open on weekends for tours.

The smallest of the three houses is a semi-detached home that was a quiet retreat for one of Australia's favourite prime ministers, Ben Chifley and his wife, Elizabeth.  The house reveals the domestic life of the man who rose from humble beginnings as an engine driver on the NSW railways to the most important political position in the country.  This five room cottage contains original furnishings and many of the Chifley's daily household and personal items still in their familiar places.  Official gifts to the prime minister share pride of place with embroidery that was worked by his wife.  It was said by Mrs Chifley that her husband was very happy at home pottering around fixing things or just relaxing with his pipe and newspaper.  The house is one of only three former prime ministers' homes that is open to the public.  Guided tours take place every Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Historic Home passes offer a discount on the entry to the wonderful houses and can be purchased from the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre at 1 Kendall Avenue.  For further information and tickets contact the centre on 1800 68 1000.