In the picturesque plains of western Victoria, Horsham is a lively city along the vibrant Wimmera River. There are such diverse Things To See And Do In Horsham. Surrounded by friendly locals, it has a healthy choice of shops and restaurants, as well as a top-notch cultural venue in the multimillion-dollar Horsham Town Hall, being home to a vibrant array of cultural events, sporting venues, and children’s activities. Head out of Horsham, and in minutes, you can be in the breathtaking Grampian range, the wildlife-rich Little Desert or at the foot of Mount Arapiles, one of Australia’s favourite climbing locations.
Things To Do In Horsham
From famous historical sites and must-visit heritage locations to natural attractions, national parks and reserves, every interest of every tourist is duly fulfilled. Do not forget to experience this town’s local culture and music and surely taste the local cuisine when visiting Horsham, which was even declared Victoria’s Tidiest Town in 2021.
Here is the curated list of things to do in Horsham:
1. Explore The Town’s Art At Horsham Regional Art Gallery
Image Credit: Tama66 for Pixabay
Retaining that Fine Art aesthetic on Wilson Street, this highly respected regional gallery has attracted visitors since 1973 and has built up a diverse and pleasing collection over the last five decades. The gallery’s standout collection features Australian photography, including more than 1,000 works by famed artists like Olive Cotton, Tony Albert, David Moore, and Nicolas Claire.
Additionally, there’s a catalogue of art pieces by artists from the Wimmera Region and the Mack Jost Collection of paintings and works on paper. Offering four distinct spaces for temporary exhibitions, there’s always something fresh to adore here, and in June, the gallery hosts the ten-day “ART IS…” festival, held as one of the best art events in Australia. Welcoming over 70,000 people annually, the venue has become the cultural hub for the Wimmera.
Location: 80 Wilson Street, Horsham, Victoria 3400
Timings: Open daily from 10 am to 4 pm
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2. Attend The Many Events Of Horsham Town Hall
Image Credit: Acabashi for Wikimedia Commons
For the perfect showcase of culture in Horsham, look no further than this multidisciplinary complex, which opened to the public in 2016. Horsham Town Hall is a reworked and extended arthouse originally designed by renowned Melbourne architect Charles Neville Hollinshed as a municipal building and completed in 1939.
After many years of planning, the entire heritage-listed complex was revamped and is now an entertainment and culture hub attracting tens of thousands of visitors a year. In this modern space, outlined by marvellous architecture, there’s a 500-seat theatre hosting and promoting all kinds of art forms, from live music, dance, comedy, musicals, and talks to the first-rate regional art gallery.
Location: 71 Pynsent Street, Horsham, Victoria 3400
Timings: Open daily from 10 am to 4 pm
3. Take A Stroll In Horsham Botanical Gardens
This beautiful space close to the Wimmera river bank was laid out by William Guilfoyle, the botanist and landscape gardener behind the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne. Greeting you at Horsham Botanical Gardens are tall mature trees, dainty flower beds, public art pieces, a glorious rose garden and carpet-like lawns that stay lush all year.
You can take a gentle and relaxing stroll along the gravel and brick tracks, and you will never be far from the shade of a tree, shelter, or the traditional old-style gazebo that can be booked for gatherings. One additional quirk is that kids are sure to love the giant version of their childhood favourite game of snakes and ladders, while next door in the enclosure of Sawyer Park, there’s a miniature railway as well.
Location: Baker Street, Horsham, Victoria 3400
Timings: Open every day of the week from sunrise to sunset.
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4. Do Tread On The Arapiles Big Sky Bike Trail
Any visit to Horsham is incomplete without exploring this gorgeous trail. The Arapiles Big Sky Bike Trail connects the small town of Natimuk to Mt Arapiles, which rises dramatically over the beautiful Wimmera plains. The 33km off-road recreational trail loops through the verdant landscape surrounding many breathtaking locations like Natimuk, Natimuk Lake, Mitre Lake, Mitre Rock and Mt Arapiles. As you make your way along the trail, you will discover grasslands that host up to 500 plant species; you can climb sand dunes and, in Spring, behold magnificent canola fields stretching to the horizon.
There’s a great probability that you will encounter some of the local wildlife while marching on this trail. From the pinnacle of Mt Arapiles, you will bask in the most magnificent views of the surrounding areas, stretching from the Little Desert National Park in the north to the Grampians in the east. The best feature of The Arapiles Big Sky trail is that it can be completed as a loop, experienced in smaller sections, and is best travelled on a mountain bike.
Things To See: grey kangaroos accompany the swamp wallabies near the top of the mountain.
Listen to: Over 100 species of birds have been recorded at Mt Arapiles, including weebills, thornbills, honeyeaters, lorikeets, parrots, kookaburras
5. Visit The Horsham Historical Society
Image Credit: David Howard for Wikimedia Commons
Horsham Historical Society inarguably possesses the most extensive collection of the city and district’s local historical records, including hundreds of information files on people, businesses, buildings, and organisations. Beyond this information, you can look at thousands of photographs dating from the 1870s to the present day, currently being indexed.
The collection also includes the Horsham Times newspaper index of births, deaths, marriages, and businesses up to 1900.
The Horsham burial records from 1920 to 1999 are completely indexed along with former and present town and district maps. A visit here will also give you access to the original Horsham Times and Wimmera Mail-Times newspapers from 1886 to 2015.
Location: 33 Pynsent Street, Horsham, Victoria 3400
Timings: Open from 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm
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6. Explore The Horsham Greyhound Racing Club
The Horsham Greyhound Racing Club was formed in 1971 but started hosting race meetings at the Horsham Showgrounds only in December 1973. The Club offers a list of amenities, including a formal dining area, a large undercover Grandstand, a quality race surface, and long straights. Racing at Horsham was a regular and famous Monday night attraction until 1982, and today, it holds races every Tuesday afternoon.
The Club hosts its Cup meeting over the long holiday weekend in March on its recently upgraded track, which is now unanimously regarded as one of Australia’s best.
Location: McPherson Street Horsham VIC 3400
Timings: Check the website regularly for updates regarding all the upcoming races.
You May Also Like To Read: Things To Do in Australia
Exploring Horsham is a great chance to discover the unexpected and delve deeper into the history of Victoria’s west. Horsham is located approximately 300 kilometres from the state capital, Melbourne, on a bend in the Wimmera River. The city has no dearth of variety for the visiting tourists, be it the amusement and entertainment venues or galleries and museums. Now that you have a list of things to remember for your awaited exploration of Horsham plan your trip to Australia to scout these fabulous spots for the experience of a lifetime. Don’t waste more time thinking, and book your tickets now!
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Cover Image Credit: Stephen Richards for Wikimedia Commons
Frequently Asked Questions About Things To Do In Horsham
Do Indian passport holders need a visa for travelling to Australia?
Certainly, Indian citizens do require a valid passport along with a visa to visit Australia. Since Australia offers an exhaustive range of visas for Indians, the most important part of the whole process is to select the correct category of visa before applying for the visa.
What is the preferred time to visit Australia?
The best time to visit Australia depends mainly on the area you plan to explore. While the northern half of Australia is driest and most accessible between April and September, on the other hand, the southern half is warmer and more festive between December and February.
Why do Horsham towns in England and Australia share the same name?
There is a claim that the Horsham town in West Sussex, England, is the source of the name Horsham town, Australia. The town of Horsham in James Monckton Darlot, an early settler's home England is credited with inspiring the name of this settlement.
Does Horsham lie close to Melbourne City?
The town of Horsham is about 300 kilometres away from Melbourne City via road. And you'll pass through peaceful areas like Docklands, South Wharf, South Melbourne, Port Melbourne, Spotswood, Yarraville, and Brooklyn on your about 4-hour ride.
What makes Australia such a popular destination?
Australia is a continent-country that is blessed with numerous distinctive geographical features and a distinctive wildlife. Consequently, ecotourism makes up a significant amount of both domestic and foreign travel to Australia; data indicates that two-thirds of foreign visitors have participated in some form of nature tourism.
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