Grenfell  New South Wales

Birthplace of Henry Lawson and haunt of notorious bushranger Ben Hall, Grenfell hosts some of the finest examples of heritage architecture in rural Australia.

Nestled in a picturesque valley at the foot of the Weddin Mountains, Grenfell offers the visitors the chance to soak up the pioneer past and to relive days when life moved at a more leisurely pace.

The rich wildlife and history captured by the likes of Ben Hall’s Cave, make the Weddin Mountains National Park a great place for a spot of bush-walking, bird-watching or picnicking.

Grenfell is at its most colourful in October when theatre, pageantry, the country show and the Grenfell Guineas come together for the Iris Festival against a backdrop of more than 30,000 blooms.

But the quintessential celebration falls on the long weekend when a bevy of Australian writers and and literary figures gather for readings and plays that make the annual Henry Lawson Festival of Arts such a significant event.