Christmas in July at Hotel Binalong

Built around a village square the historic heritage village of Binalong is nestled in wooded hills north-west of Yass.  In 1821 Hamilton Hume’s exploratory party became the first known group of Europeans in the area. Binalong was also home to one of Australia’s best-known poets: AB ‘Banjo’ Paterson.  Raised at Illalong Station outside the town, ‘Banjo’ attended school in Binalong before being sent off to school in Sydney in 1864.  He returned to Illalong on holidays many times and Binalong influenced several of his poems. One of Australia’s most infamous bushrangers, Johnny (Flash) Gilbert, lies buried near Binalong.  Gilbert, along with Frank Gardiner and Ben Hall, formed part of the gang responsible for the biggest robbery in Australian bush ranging history, stealing £14,000 in cash and gold from the Forbes Gold escort in June 1862.  At the time of his death in 1865, Gilbert had become Australia’s most notorious criminal.  His grave can be found on the Harden Road, 1 km from town, and his death is recorded in Banjo Paterson’s 1894 poem “How Gilbert Died”. Once a major stopping place for Cobb & Co coaches, Binalong is now home to some outstanding examples of colonial architecture.  The Black Swan Inn (built in 1847) is now a Gallery and informal wine bar, while the original Paterson Pub (1840s), built of pise and bricks, is now a private residence, as is the old railway station (1876).