KEITH WALKING TOUR
Basketball/ Netball
1. Commence from Don Moseley Park , named after a founding member of the Keith War Memorial Community Centre. Modern toilets are located here as well as a new Sport & Recreation Centre alongside the football oval. Enjoy the mural painted by local artists, the Disability Access Swing, cook on the BBQ, or sit in the Rotunda and watch the children playing in the playground or riding on the ever-popular monorail. Opposite Don Moseley Park you can view the memorial to local legend, Andy Caldecott, and a Centurion Tank, lovingly restored by a group of locals. Continue your walk down Heritage Street. 2. Keith Institute. The original local stone building was opened in 1899, the 2nd in 1907 and the 3rd, the Makin Memorial Hall, in 1936. The community has met here for a myriad of events for over 100 years and now also includes the community cinema and meeting room. 3. IGA store. Modernised building constructed from local stone. It has housed several businesses, including a haberdashery, giftware, and a clothing shop. 4. The location of Keith’s first Blacksmith shop. This building has followed the evolution of local transport from horse and cart to modern vehicles over the last 100 years. 5. The memorial on the corner depicts Keith’s first Post Office . The concrete slab upon which it stands is part of the original veranda floor. 6. Stop and enjoy fresh brewed coffee at Henry and Rose . The renovated premises is a giftware shop combined with a licensed restaurant. It has been a general store, drapery, then a camping and motorbike sale and repair shop. In the early days it was even used as a boxing venue. 7. Across Heritage Street, to the east, in the park, is Keith’s Water Feature “Circlework” , designed by local artist James Darling. This unique artwork was a “Country Arts Trust” project. It represents the wealth of underground water in this district and is a poignant reminder of how important all forms of water are to this area. 8. Further along in the Soldier’s Memorial Park stands a monument unveiled in 1920 remembering those community members who served in WW1. It is the site of the ANZAC day dawn service. Trees along Heritage Street and the highway display plaques bearing the names of those who served in WW1 and WW2 from the Keith District. 9. Cross back over Heritage Street to stand in front of the Old Manse . Now a private residence, this building has also served as the Post Office and housed the local phone exchange when it was manually run. 10. The 1910 Church Building now belongs to the National Trust. When first built in 1910 using local stone and labour it was the only church in the town and parishioners of all denominations attended Sunday services together. View the stunning leadlight windows created by residents depicting the history of Keith over the last 100 years. 11. When electricity first came to Keith it was supplied by a locally run generator . Which is displayed on the south side of the church. 12. Towards the back of the block on land next to the church stands the building that was originally the Sunday School for the Church
and later the site of the first Community Kindergarten. It is now a clothing shop called Retail Therapy. 13. Cross over Makin Street. Public toilets situated near the highway. 14. Turn right to Carries Cottage (now Morning Loaf Bakery). It was built in the early 1900’s and was originally Wylies, Keith’s first general store. Later extensions saw it become a garage and then a general store. 15. Continue down Makin Street, and across on McBain Street to the Keith Hotel . This original old building was Keith’s first Hotel and boarding house and is now the “front bar”. 16. A little further along is a beer garden, lounge, and dining area. 17. Continue to the end of McBain Street past several small businesses and the Police Station . The police residence is an old building built from local stone with the old cells still “out the back”. 18. At Ellis Street look left for the Land Rover on a Pole and take a walk down memory lane. The memorial is dedicated to the “Desert Conquest Settlers” . This landmark shows the Wiles Huts which were homes for families while their properties were being developed. The Land Rover played a major role in opening up the district. 19. Next head to the Keith Skate Park. A great place to take the kids to burn some energy. 20. Keith’s Pump Track was built in 2021 for locals and visitors alike. 21. From here the Lions’ Park and Hockey fields can be seen. There are BBQs and toilets in the park. 22. Fire Station Artwork – The mural, painted by local Artist, Julia Davis features firefighters in action battling a blaze, a local fire truck and a bulldozer, that is used to prevent fires spreading by the making of a firebreak. 23. On the left towards the end of Ellis Street is the Scout/Hockey Hall , which was the original Recreation Hall for the AMP Settlers at Brecon before being transported to its present location. The building also served in the 1950’s as a Church Hall and Dance Hall. 24. Turn right into Tolmer Terrace (on the left look for the wallabies). This was a Keith and District Heritage and Environment Project . The area, once known as The Common or Cow Patch is a native animal and wetland enclosure. 25. Lester House was originally built as a boarding house and residence for the Publican. 26. Cross over Makin Street and continue down Tolmer Terrace with Keith Area School to the left. At the entrance to the Community Library, housed in the school grounds, is a mosaic of the School Emblem made by the Keith Activity Centre. 27. From here the original Headmaster’s residence can be seen. 28. Original classrooms that are still used today and were constructed from local stone. This along with the teacher’s residence was completed in 1913 at a cost of £1,565. 29. Look to the end of Tolmer Terrace and the Croquet, Tennis, Bowling Clubs and Keith War Memorial Sports Centre are visible .
38. Centurian Tank N0 169042 served as a training vehicle at Puckapunyal for the first 17 years of its life. It was sent to South Vietnam in 1969 but was severely damaged (burnt out) when it collided with a mine in February 1970. It was subsequently returned to Australia and refurbished before being placed in storage. It spent the majority of 1977 with the 1st Armoured Unit before being returned to Bandiana. This was its final time being issued to the regiment. The tank was purchased by local Glen Simpson who restored it and put it on display. 39. The memorial site, opposite Don Moseley Park, is for the late Andy Caldecott. One of Keith’s favourite sons, winning four consecutive Australian Safaris and three stages of the Dakar Rally in 2006 before he tragically died while competing.
30. Turn right into Dugan Street and on the left is the Old Methodist Church, later a Sunday School. It has previously been used as a hairdresser and is now a gym. 31. On the right is the previous Masonic Lodge building . 32. The building on the corner of Dugan and Hender Street sits what was formally the Bank of NSW. 33. Dugan Street Mural Designed with ideas straight from the Keith community, the Dugan St Mural was completed by artist Julia Davis in December 2023. 34. The Purple Paddock , a cooperative stocked with locally produced goods, including delicious home cooking, jams, sauces, art, crafts, jewellery, clothing and friendly members behind the counter. 35. Opposite the IGA and built from local stone is a quaint residence that was a busy Post Office for a time 36. Cross Hender Street and on the corner is the first Institute. During the WW2 years it was used as a base for Volunteer Air Observers Corp. In the early years it was also used as a school and now is the CWA rooms . If you look back across at the IGA you will see a mural of the corner of Heritage Street and Makin Street circa 1953. 37. Straight ahead are the War Memorial Gates opened in 1953 providing access to the football oval and kindergarten and what was the original showgrounds.
When first built in 1910 it was the only church in the town and parishioners of all denominations attended Sunday services together. View the stunning leadlight windows created by local residents depicting the history of Keith over the last 100 years.
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