Small town. Big history.
Follow the symbols and uncover Gulgong’s history as you wander the streets. This self-guided trail leads you past heritage buildings, hidden details and the places that shaped one of the region’s most fascinating towns.
Back in the gold rush days and through the Great Depression, travellers used a secret code of symbols to share information about the road ahead – where to find work, food or a safe place to rest. This simple language travelled the world, including swaggies across Australia.
Fast forward to Gulgong, and those same symbols found a new life.
Local potter Chester Nealie brought the idea to life when creating the decorative paving throughout town. From a larger set, 16 symbols were chosen to reflect Gulgong’s gold rush and battler history.
Today, the Gulgong Symbol Trail features around 70 tiles scattered along Mayne Street and through Coronation Park. They’re laid out in a loose, wandering pattern – just like the swaggers of the past.
Take your time. Look a little closer. There’s more to Gulgong than meets the eye.
Download the Gulgong Symbol Trail map and start exploring.
