Then and Now

Oct/Nov 2024

The first steam locomotive to bring passengers to Moss Vale rolled into the fledgling township in 1867. More than 150 years later, when ‘The Picnic Train’ approaches Moss Vale, its distinctive steam whistle blows loudly announcing the arrival of rail enthusiasts and families on a nostalgic journey to the Southern Highlands.

Then and Now

Dec/Jan 2025

Dancing to the strains of a jazz trio in the ballroom, guests at the opening festivities of the Hotel Robertson in November 1924 were treated to a lavish introduction to what was claimed to be ‘the premier country hotel in the Commonwealth’ as it celebrated its Centenary. After several name changes over the decades, this icon of the Southern Highlands was reborn as a stylish country retreat, The Robertson Hotel, in 2014.

Then and Now

Apr/May 2024

The main street of Bundanoon has changed little over 100 years: a string of shops and cafes facing the railway that brought droves of holidaymakers and honeymooners during its tourist heyday between the wars. In recent years, the town has seen an upturn in tourism and has blossomed as a most desirable place to live.

Then and Now

Aug/Sep 2025

In September each year, Corbett Gardens in Bowral is transformed from a peaceful park into the centrepiece of the Tulip Time Flower Festival, when over 50,000 visitors view the 80,000 tulips and thousands of annuals that burst into bloom over the three weeks of festivities.

Then and Now

Feb/Mar 2026

When it closed in 2020, Berrima Gaol was the oldest operational correctional facility in Australia. For more than 180 years, the formidable gaol had loomed large over the township and was once the most feared place of incarceration in the state. With redevelopment plans for the historic Berrima Gaol building making news, LINDA EMERY looks back at its history.