Skip to Content Skip to Navigation Show Trail Map Show About the Trail Show Important Trail Details Read Trail Reviews
Add Favourites
Support Our Trails

York Walks - Hidden Gems

Urban Walk inPerth & Surrounds

  • 1-3 hours
  • 2.8 km

Tour the undiscovered jewels of York’s sidestreets - there’s so much more to York than meets the eye at first glance.  Enjoy a picnic in one of the parks and gardens along the way.

Designed by ex-convict architect Joseph Nunan, St. Patrick's was described as "decidedly the most handsome edifice for religious purposes in the Colony" at its opening.
Earn 1 Point
Donate to support this trail

Trail Start

Get directions

York Visitor Centre, York Town Hall, 100 km (1 hour plus) east of Perth

Trail End

Get directions

York Visitor Centre, York Town Hall, 100 km (1 hour plus) east of Perth

What does this mean?
Print Map
Masonic_hall_andytyndall.com

Originally built for the Oddfellows Society, it became Masonic Lodge no. 5 in Western Australia. Lodge meetings took place here for over 100 years, always on a moonlit night.There's an option here to cut through Peace Park to go straight to St.Patrick's Church and the Convent School.
Photo: andytyndall.com
Flour_mill_debbie_matthews

When constructed it was the largest flour Mill in the State. The mill operated until 1967, with the railway alongside allowing easy loading and transport to Fremantle for export of flour. Photo: Debbie Matthews
Railway_stn_Debbie_matthews

Easy transport of farm produce and passengers boosted York's prosperity when the railway from Fremantle to York opened in 1885. Photo: Debbie Matthews
war_memorial_credit_lisanicoleimagery

The impressive WW1 War Memorial is flanked by a bronze bas-relief of York-born VC winner Lawrence McCarthy and an original WW1 German 77mm Krupp Field Gun. photo: lisanicolimagery.com.au
convent_school_credit_debbie_matthews

Built after the Elementary education Act of 1871 enabled State aid for Catholic schools, it was run by the Sisters of Mercy until 1971. Photo: Debbie Matthews
St_Patricks_Church_credit_lisanicoleimagery

Now the Church hall, the small original Church was built from 1859-60. The 'new' Church, designed by Joseph Nunan, was described at the opening as "decidedly the most handsome edifice for religious purposes in the Colony". Photo: lisanicoleimagery.com.au
old_school_howick_st_2_credit_andytyndall.com

Designed by prominent architect George Temple-Poole and constructed by local builders Thorn, Bower & Stewart. Boys and girls had separate classrooms and playgrounds. If you want to return to Avon Terrace from this point, cut across the car park to Settler's House through the small wooden archway. Photo: andytyndall.com
uniting_church_and_hall_credit_debbie_matthews

When Wesleyan Minister John Smithies built the brick chapel in 1854 it was opened by "an excellent discourse on the transfiguration of Christ...in the afternoon more than 50 Sabbath school and other children were regaled with buns and tea..."
Can you spot the bell outside?
Photo: Debbie Matthews
Photo: Debbie Matthews
Eremophila_nivea_Bushland_Garden_BG_21.9.2016_DSCN2671_credit_Audrey_Sole

Meander through a native wildflower wonderland with over 400 native flora, a plant photographer's paradise in spring and a fascinating rest stop on your town tour. Plant brochure available at York Visitor Centre. Photo: Audrey Sole
Faversham_stables_credit_heritageintelligencewa

Our Barn Girl Guides Centre, the former stables of Faversham House. Just past the Sandalwood Yards you'll get a great view of Faversham House from Avon Terrace. Photo: heritageintelligencewa.com.au
sandalwood_yards_today

Here, J.H. Monger ran a thriving trade in sandalwood, a fragrant timber known as 'the poor man's moneybox' during the nineteenth century. Only the stable block now remains, along with the relocated Tipperary schoolhouse and York Society Archives Centre. Photo: Shire of York
Billiard_room_credit_heritageintelligencewa

On this site, Joseph Monger built a replica of Faversham House owned by his brother John Henry Monger Jnr., supposedly just to irritate him. All that remains now is the stone-built billiard room. Photo: heritageintelligencewa.com.au
RSL_gardens

Memorial rose garden, created by the York RSL to commemorate those who served in two World Wars. Lest We Forget. Photo: Shire of York
Suspension_bridge_Karina_Leonhardt

Turn down Christie Retreat so that you don't miss the suspension bridge. Warning - unstable surface - it swings! Cyclists dismount.
Have fun, a fantastic view and great photo-opportunities of the river as you sashay and sway across! This is a replica of the first suspension bridge erected in 1888 nearer to the current South Street roadbridge. Photo: Karina Leonhardt
Avon_park_York

Wander back through Avon Park - once home to the York Agricultural Show and Fair, then Municipal Gardens from the 1890s and today a great place for a family picnic, with natureplay area, skatepark and BBQs. Photo: lisanicoleimagery.com.au / Shire of York.

Turn right into South Street to return to the Town Hall.
Logo for Leave no Trace Initiative

Trails WA supports the seven principles recommended by Leave No Trace Australia for minimising your impacts when using the trails.

Learn more

Many more heritage buildings can be found by those who wander a little further than York's main street. You'll also find a surprising Bushland Garden with over 400 native flora species; churches, schools and evidence of trades and industries past.

Starting from York Visitor Centre in the Town Hall, the walk has been designed so that you can do as much or as little as you wish in a series of loops. Peace Park, Avon Park or the Bushland or RSL Gardens make great picnic and rest stops en route.

The whole route is 2.8km. For shorter walks, cut through at Settlers House and Post Office laneway to do top half loop of 1.8km or bottom half loop of 2.1km.

York is just over an hour’s drive from Perth through beautiful bush and rolling farmland and has several linking walk and cycle trails that you can mix and match to suit yourself.

York Visitor Centre

(08) 9641 1301

Other Links

  • Trail Map

    Trail Map and further information

  • Wikipedia York

    Further information about York's heritage

  • InHerit

    State Heritage Office database of heritage places

  • Experience Perth

    Comprehensive information on the Perth region including destinations, things to see and do, accommodation and tours.


Be trail ready for York Walks - Hidden Gems

Here is everything you need to know before visiting this trail.

Time / Duration

Around an hour

Length

From 1.8km to 2.8km depending on route.

What To Pack

Group A (Urban trails or short trails near facilities) required.

Trail Start

York Visitor Centre, York Town Hall, 100 km (1 hour plus) east of Perth

Get directions

Trail End

York Visitor Centre, York Town Hall, 100 km (1 hour plus) east of Perth

Get directions

Facilities

Town Hall Visitor Centre has shop, toilets for people with disabilities and first aid equipment during opening hours 9.30am-4pm daily. Car and coach parking and toilets in Howick street. Peace Park, Avon Park and York Bushland Garden make great picnic spots, with Avon Park especially suitable for children. Cafes and public telephone in Avon Terrace.
  • Cafe
  • Car Park
  • Coach Parking
  • Dog Friendly
  • First Aid Equipment
  • Picnic Area
  • Public Telephone
  • Public Toilet
  • Shop
  • Toilet Facilities for Disabled
  • Visitor Information Centre
  • Water Access Points

Best time of year

All year round. Temperatures can be hot during January and February

Fees

Trail Access

Road 2WD, walk from town

More tips for being Trail Ready
Edge shaped like mountain horizon
topography pattern

Complete York Walks - Hidden Gems to earn badges and points!

Earn points and badges and become a "TrailsWA Expert" by completing trails and leaving reviews.

Earn 1 Point

Earn 1 point towards
your TrailsWA level

Edge shaped like mountain horizon
Alt text

Be the first to review York Walks - Hidden Gems

We love to hear from people who've been on our Western Australian trails, so it would be most appreciated it if you wanted to leave a review.

Like this trail? Explore others nearby

More around Perth & Surrounds

Supported by great organisations

Trails are free and bring so many benefits to our community by providing opportunities to have fun, get fit, socialise, explore and challenge yourself. But they also have to be managed and maintained which only is made possible through terrific sponsors, donations and/or volunteering.

topography pattern