Dubbo is a vibrant centre in the Orana region in the heart of New South Wales situated at the junction of the Golden, Mitchell and Newell highways, straddling the Macquarie River.
Dubbo was first settled in the 1840's when a store was opened on the banks of the Macquarie River by Jean Emile de Bouillon Serisier. It soon became a stopping point for settlers heading out in search of better pastures and for drovers herding cattle mobs south to the Victorian markets of the day.
Today, Dubbo is a prosperous regional service centre with one of Australia's largest saleyards operations and a widely diversified rural economy. In fairly recent years, it has also developed as a major tourist destination with the establishment of the Taronga Western Plains Zoo which is located near Dubbo on the undulating plains of the central west. This rural setting provides the perfect accommodation for what was Australia's first open-range zoo.
There are still many colonial building as well as modern structures. The most imposing is the 1880’s Classical court house with its massive columns and pediment. A beautiful 1876 bank building houses a museum and there is the National Trust's Dundullimal Homestead. The Commercial Hotel was the community’s second hostelry when built in 1859.
An attractive mix of the old and the new you can visit wineries, historic villages and pubs, the Old Dubbo Gaol - which is a must see when visiting, as well as the magnificent Western Plains Zoo. Dubbo is one of the most family friendly cities in NSW.
Old Dubbo Gaol caters for all levels of interest especially families. You will meet, hear and see the Condemned Man, the Ghost of Old Dubbo Gaol, the Executioner and the Gallows.
Be sure to see the big cats, Black Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus, Giraffes, Zebra, African Elephants, Siamang Ape and many more. Take your African Safari now!