ATTRACTION GUILDFORD

The historic Chapel of St Mary and St George is a captivating sight for visitors to the historic town of Guildford. Its idyllic position on a large expanse of green grass framed by London Plane trees adds to the presence of this grand church. Regarded as one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Australia, visitors will be astounded by the sheer beauty of the church. The Chapel is located within the grounds of the prestigious boy's school, Guildford Grammar School. The charming town of Guildford is a 20 minute drive north-east of Perth. The entire town has been classified by the National Trust and as a result offers a multitude of historical buildings and heritage sites to investigate. The ideal way to explore the town is on one of many self-guided heritage walks.

The award winning Swan Valley Heritage Cycle Trail is a 10 kilometre end to end, scenic cycle trail located in the heart of the Swan Valley, 25 minutes drive from the city of Perth, Western Australia. This easy Top Trail includes a series of sings that interpret the rich history, interesting characters and natural elements that allow you to appreciate the unique Swan Valley. Whilst you can start anywhere along trail, there are three main entry points, Guildford (at the Swan Valley and Visitor Centre), Maali Footbridge and West Swan Hall. The trail occasionally leaves West Swan Road (the main route) for quieter streets, to capture the many beautiful vistas of the Swan Valley. The trail passes many interesting places including fruit stalls, picnic spots, galleries, wineries and restaurants to name a few, so you will find many opportunities to stop, relax and enjoy an abundance of experiences. Often on a shared-use path, this trail takes a half day or less to complete and is suitable for riders of all ages and fitness levels. Bicycles can be hired in Perth city and transported by train to the start of the cycle in Guildford. Maps available form the Visitor Centre.

The Guildford Town Hall is a prominent landmark in the centre of the historic town of Guildford. Whilst no longer operating as the town's administrative centre, the hall still offers an insight into the history and development of the local government of the district. Also operating as a theatre, it is well worth timing your visit to enable you to catch a local performance whilst in the town. Explore the exterior of the building, which is an excellent example of the Inter-War Art Deco style of architecture, which was popular during its time of construction in 1938. The heritage listed civic building is located in the charming town of Guildford, just twenty minutes drive east of Perth. The entire town has been classified by the National Trust and as a result offers a multitude of historical buildings and heritage sites to investigate. The ideal way to explore the town is on one of the many self-guided heritage walks on offer.

Strolling the streets of Guildford, gateway to the Swan Valley, on the Guildford Heritage Walk Trails you get the feeling you're in a charming little village that time forgot. It's a place where history lives on in quaint colonial buildings, where the influence of the English gentry is still played out on the polo field and where Devonshire tea is served with a shameless disregard for cholesterol levels. So put on some stout walking shoes and explore the beginning of colonial charm. Explore the history of our town on foot. Established on what's virtually an island encircled by the Swan and Helena Rivers, Guildford's ideally suited to explore on foot. To assist you in discovering the numerous fascinating historic buildings, lively characters and wonderful stores of this 'island village' three new heritage walk trails, with 35 interpretive panels, have been built. The Town Walk: 1,800 metres, 40-60 minutes, red markers The River Ramble: 1,500 metres, 30-50 minutes, blue markers The Stirling Square Circuit: 450 metres, 20 minutes, black markers Each trail starts and finishes at the Old Guildford Courthouse (Visitor Centre). The route markers carry the original Town of Guildford crest, with the trails distinguished by different colour marker plates.

The intriguing brick work and picturesque grounds surrounding St Matthews Church draws many visitors to the historic town of Guildford. The church now standing in Stirling Square was built in 1873, after its predecessor was destroyed in a hurricane. Wander around the exterior of the large church and examine the bricks that were laid alternately lengthwise and pointing inwards to reinforce the structure. This was the third attempt at building the church, and great care was taken to construct a sturdy building that would stand the test of time. Explore the magnificently kept grounds of St Matthews which is extremely popular for weddings. St Matthews features on the Historic Walk of Guildford which encompasses 22 significant sites and historical buildings. Collect a brochure about the walk from the Guildford and Swan Valley Tourist Information Centre. Initially established as the rural centre of the Swan River colony, Guildford is rich in history and has played a significant role in shaping Western Australia. Just 20 minutes drive east of Perth the historic town is also the gateway to the Swan Valley wine region.

The award winning Swan Valley Food and Wine Trail is a 32 kilometre scenic loop drive in the heart of the Swan Valley, 25 minutes from Perth. Starting at the visitor centre in Guildford, this Top Trail takes in more than 150 wineries, lively breweries, fine restaurants, bustling cafes, distilleries, shop, accommodation outlets and roadside stalls selling fresh produce. As Western Australia's oldest wine growing region, the Swan Valley has earned a solid reputation for its wines, however whilst exploring the region you'll also experience world-class art galleries, the joys of holding and feeding wildlife, getting up close to nature and learning about Aboriginal culture. The highlights of this trail are the interesting places, great food and beverages to enjoy along the way and the pleasant rural scenery; essentially it seduces visitors with a rich fusion of this eclectic mix. The drive trail links the Guildford Heritage walk trail and the Swan Valley Food and Wine cycle trail. The trail is well sing posted, has a wide choice of places to visit and works in conjunction with the Swan Valley guide and maps.

Stirling Square is a picturesque park that is one point of interest on a self-guided walk through historic Guildford. Stirling Square, originally called Church Square, was set aside and surveyed in 1829. It was originally twice its current size but in the 1940s and 1860s sections were sold off and trees were planted in 1874 and 1897. In the centre of Stirling Square is St Mathew's Church. This is the third St Mathews Church in the area. The first, built of mud bricks in 1836 was replaced by a wooden building which was blown down by a hurricane in 1860. The current building was constructed in 1873 and is notable for the way the bricks have been laid alternately lengthwise and pointing inwards to reinforce the structure.