Goulburn

Postcode: 2580

Goulburn is a provincial cathedral city in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Goulburn Mulwaree Council. It is located 190 km south west of Sydney on the Hume Highway and 690 metres above sea-level. It has a population of 20,127. It brands itself as "Australia's first inland city".

Goulburn was named by James Meehan after Henry Goulburn, Under-Secretary for War and the Colonies, and the name was ratified by Governor Lachlan Macquarie. The Aboriginal name for Goulburn is Burbong, a Murring/Wiradjuri word indicating a special Indigenous cultural area.

Goulburn is a railhead and service centre for the surrounding pastoral industry and a stopover for those travelling on the Hume Highway. Goulburn was bypassed in 1992 and its particularly long main street is quieter, but still busy during Saturday morning shopping. It has a pleasant central park and many historic buildings, including old houses near the railway station on Sloane Street and two 19th century cathederals. It is home to the Big Merino, the world's largest cement sheep.

Goulburn is suffering more from the current Australian drought conditions than most cities, the last significant rain was in November 2004, the water supply for the city was last full in 2000. Goulburn may soon use recycled water, although voters rejected the idea in a 2006 referendum. Goulburn is considering the installation of a water pipe, pumping water from the Southern Highlands.

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