Thirlmere is known for a few things, from the delicious meat pies at the Loop-Lines Pies bakery to its large Estonian population to its lakes.
Mostly though, the village is famous for its rail museum and the annual steam train festival.
All up it’s a regional location in the Wollondilly Shire that’s worth visiting at least once.
Thirlmere has officially been named as a finalist in the 2026 Top Tourism Town Awards, in the small tourism town category.
The awards are delivered by the NSW Tourism Association and supported by NRMA and Local Government NSW.
Voting is now open, and a new digital campaign has been launched to encourage tourism within Thirlmere and surrounds.
Wollondilly Council says Thirlmere offers a unique blend of heritage, nature and country charm, making it a standout destination for day trips and weekend escapes.
Mayor Matt Gould is encouraging residents, visitors and businesses to vote for Thirlmere and share the promotional video to put the town on the map.
“Thirlmere is a welcoming community and is surrounded by beautiful landscapes. It is home to iconic attractions such as the NSW Rail Museum and Thirlmere Lakes National Park, as well as local water holes, orchards and wildlife sanctuaries,” he said.
“The NSW Rail Museum alone attracts more than 78,000 visitors annually and we would like to see that number grow.
“I would love to see visitors stay a bit longer to explore all the other amazing things that Thirlmere and Wollondilly have to offer.
“Winning the Top Tourism Town award would shine a spotlight on Thirlmere and surrounds, boosting visitation, supporting local business and strengthening the local economy.”
Public voting will remain open until May 3. If you’d like to cast your vote for Thirlmere head to https://nswtourismassoc.kartra.com/survey/anmWRKOLCr9c
Winners will be announced at the Local Government NSW destination and visitor economy conference in Maitland on 27 May.
The promotional video is available here – https://www.visitwollondilly.com.au/experience/towns-andvillages/thirlmere/