The latest figures from Domain show that local house prices rose by an average of 2.8 per cent over the September quarter – and 9.9 per cent over the past year.

The same report found the median house price is now an incredible $429,000, up from $417,000 just three months earlier.

Domain also found that Bathurst now sits comfortably on top of the housing market for the Central West with a median price well in excess of Orange and Dubbo.

Dubbo prices grew an average of 2.9 per cent in the September quarter to hit $350,000 while Orange prices actually fell one per cent to a median of $366,500.

More impressive for Bathurst, though, is the fact that this continued growth is being achieved in a market where hundreds of new homes are being built every year.

But with our city one of the fastest growing regional centres in the state, supply still struggles to keep up with demand.

That should come as no surprise to anyone who has chosen to make their home.

There are many reasons that this is such an attractive place to live, both for those who grew up here and for tree changers looking to raise their family outside of Sydney.

There is no doubt that relative proximity to Sydney is a great advantage for Bathurst but it would mean nothing if the city had not developed the way it has over the years.

While other regional centres have been subjected to the boom and bust economies of mining, Bathurst has maintained a diversified economy that effectively smooths out many of the peaks and troughs.

The city is an also education hub with seven high school options, more than 20 primary schools, plus a university and TAFE college.

In recent years, council has been pouring money into developing local sporting facilities and Bathurst’s cultural attractions match anything in the state.

So it’s no wonder people want to live here and when that happens, it naturally follows that housing prices will continue to go up.

Of course, in any market there cannot be winners without losers and ensuring first-time buyers are not priced out of the market will increasingly become a challenge in the years ahead.

Handled properly, though, we should be confident that the good times will keep rolling for some time to come.