And with work that has been going on behind the scenes now nearing completion it is certainly one of regional Australia’s most important heritage tourism locations, administered by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

For much of the time since conservation measures began at Hartley in the 1960s the landmark Court House has been the standout attraction.

It remains a jewel of colonial architecture.

But National Parks staff led by site manager Steve Ring and supported by the Hartley Trust have been doing amazing things that are only now being revealed to the public.

Highlights include:

● A BOARDWALK that snakes around the side of the hill overlooking the Lett River and the remains of an early settlers’ hut.

● SENSITIVE restoration of two of the oldest buildings in the village (with one or two modern conveniences) where visitors can spend a night among the ghosts of the pioneers and convicts.

The boardwalk is central to a walking track that begins near what is known as Corney’s Garage and follows the rocky slopes of the hillside as it drops towards the Lett River, past remains of Rowson’s Hut, then back to the village.

It is a walk through a pristine river gully unchanged from the days of the first settlers and convict road builders and still alive with trout and a platypus colony.

An interpretive centre telling visitors what to expect will be located in Corney’s Garage.

The walking track is not yet open to the public but is certain to be a popular and largely unique attraction with school groups and other tourists.

The Lett River itself provided quite a spectacle when the Mercury visited this week, at its highest level in some time after recent rain and cascading towards Glenroy where it joins the Coxs River then on to Warragamba.

A key feature of the boardwalk is that it was almost entirely constructed from recycled material — 1800 kilos of it.

A short distance away on the other side of the village two buildings from the 1800s have been sympathetically restored for overnight stays by visitors.

Visitors can experience life as it was lived in pioneering times, albeit with comforts made possible by electricity.

The old St Bernard’s presbytery is an absolute showplace both inside and out and without even being advertised had its first paying guests on the Queen’s Birthday weekend.

They were so impressed they immediately gave it an on line rating of five on a tourist advisory site.

Just 100 metres or so away the smaller ‘Old Trahlee’ cottage has been given similar treatment and has also had its first guests.

A former resident brought grandchildren to the village for an experience away from the big city.

Other work is continuing on Corney’s Garage and on the old Royal Hotel that was restored a few years back.

Both will be available for multi purpose public functions.

Site Manager Steve Ring is justifiably proud of what is coming together.

He has been the driving force behind the long running project and saved the department expense by taking on the clerk or works role.

Prior to taking on responsibility for Hartley around 30 years ago Mr Ring was in charge of a museum for Fairfield Council and is well versed in local heritage and tourism matters.

The walking track including the boardwalk cost $240,000 but came in $45,000 under budget.

Another tribute to the manner in which the project has been undertaken according to Trust chairman Bob Morris is that Hartley this time next year will be the first National Park site in NSW to have completed both its plan of management and conservation program.

He was one of the founding members of the Trust and he and fellow Trust members are watching developments like proud parents.