Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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York
POP 2100
Unrelentingly quaint, York is the most atmospheric spot in the Avon Valley and a wonder-
ful place to while away a couple of hours on a Sunday, when it's at its liveliest. Avon Tce
is lined with restored heritage buildings, and the entire town has been classified by the
National Trust.
Only 97km from Perth, York is the oldest inland town in WA, first settled in 1831, just
two years after the Swan River Colony. The settlers here saw similarities in the Avon Val-
ley and their native Yorkshire, so Governor Stirling bestowed the name York.
Convicts were brought to the region in 1851 and contributed to the development of the
district; the ticket-of-leave hiring depot was not closed until 1872, four years after trans-
portation of convicts to WA ceased. During the gold rush, York prospered as a commercial
centre, servicing miners who were heading to Southern Cross, a goldfields town 273km to
the east. Most of its buildings date from this time.
1
Sights & Activities
Avon Tce is lined with
significant buildings
, such as the town hall, Castle Hotel, police sta-
tion, Old Gaol & Courthouse and Settlers House.
Holy Trinity Church
(Pool St)
, by the Avon
River, was completed in 1854 and features stained-glass windows designed by WA artist
Robert Juniper, and a rare pipe organ. The
suspension bridge
across the Avon was built in
1906.
York Mill
(
www.theyorkmill.com.au
;
13 Broome St; 10am-4pm Wed-Sun)
Built in 1892, York's four-storey flour
excellent gallery selling jarrah furniture, and art and crafts by local artisans. There are free
monthly exhibitions, and occasional one-off events like medieval fayres and banquets. A
bistro and craft brewery are planned for late 2013.
MARKET, GALLERY
Residency Museum
MUSEUM
