Welcome to HISTORIC BERRIMAExperience a taste of colonial Australia in Berrima. Easily accessed, this quaint township has been bypassed by the freeway and remains a wonderful collection of historic, convict built sandstone buildings and other sites. Much of the sandstone was sourced locally and many of the buildings have been preserved and authentically restored. The village is small enough to take a walk around its few streets and to sample the ambience of life in Australia when it was still a penal colony. Berrima's historical significance to Australia and its charm has been recognised by the National Trust with a preservation order for the future benefit of locals and visitors. Our penal history and colonial architecture is well evidenced here with the Berrima Courthouse and Berrima Gaol especially indicative of a harsh, now fascinating life for convicts, criminals and settlers surviving in the 1800s. The Berrima Gaol was notorious as one of Australia's worst in its early days, housed German internees during the Great War and today is still part of our justice system as the Berrima Training Centre, a low security prison. The Courthouse, which was the venue for Australia's first trial by jury, is now a museum with fascinating exhibits including the depiction of the murder trial and the sentencing to death by hanging, of a woman accused of being part of the axe murder of her husband. The Berrima District Historical Museum also exhibits a wonderful insight into the history of this evocative village. Many of the historic sandstone buildings were originally built as inns and grog shops to service the need of travellers as the road from Sydney progressed further south. The most famous of these is the Surveyor-General Hotel which still operates today and is the longest continually licensed pub in Australia. Other old inns house the other main attraction of Berrima, its wonderful array of craft, antique, gallery and food outlets. Allow plenty of time to peruse these quaint shops which offer jams and other produce, famous Australian opals, fashion, jewellery, confectionary, ceramics, glassware, books, memoribilia, souvenirs and much more. Accommodation in Berrima is available in a good range of catered and self catered bed and breakfast establishments and also in the local motel and cottages to let.   
© Morningside Internet
|