New South Wales · Attraction
Goulburn Historic Waterworks Museum
The Southern Hemisphere's last intact steam pumphouse
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Set on the banks of the Wollondilly River at Marsden Weir, the Goulburn Historic Waterworks is the only complete, workable steam-powered municipal water supply remaining in its original location in the Southern Hemisphere. Built between 1883 and 1885, the pumphouse still houses its original Appleby Bros. Beam Engine and Galloway Boilers, which once delivered Goulburn's first reticulated water supply. On designated steaming days throughout the year, the engines are fired up and visitors can watch Victorian-era engineering in spectacular working action.
The museum tells the story of Goulburn's water history from the days of horse-drawn water carts through to electric pumps, with the centrepiece being the 1883 Appleby Beam Engine and a Hick Hargreaves and Co. horizontal steam engine dating from 1866. The machinery was installed during a period when Goulburn was a rapidly growing colonial city, and the care taken to preserve the equipment on site - rather than relocating it to a conventional museum - gives the place a rare sense of authenticity.
The Waterworks holds six open steaming days each year, typically in March, April, May, September and November, when the engines are operated and a tea room opens in the restored School House. The riverside grounds are ideal for picnics year-round, with electric BBQs, a playground and accessible amenities. Entry to the Pumphouse Museum is by donation, making it one of the most affordable heritage experiences in regional New South Wales.
Scenic views
Lookouts near Goulburn Historic Waterworks Museum.
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