Yass is located about 280 km southwest of Sydney, on the Hume Highway. The Yass River, which is a tributary of the Murrumbidgee River, flows past the town. Yass is 56 km from Canberra.

Yass has an impressive and historic main street, with well-preserved 19th century verandah post pubs (mostly converted to other uses). It is popular with tourists, some from Canberra and others taking a break from the Hume Highway.

Yass Court House was officially opened in 1880

The Pride of Erin Festival and Yass Show are held in March and the Yass Arts-and-Crafts Festival in November.

Rupert Murdoch owns “Cavan”, a large property just south of Yass.

In 1824 Hume and Hovell set on a journey that would open up the inland route between Sydney and Melbourne. Today Hume is commemorated by the Hume Highway, the principal road between Sydney and Melbourne. Hume and Hovell were also commemorated by having their portraits printed on the Australian one-pound banknote between 1953 and 1966. In 1976, the pair were honoured on a postage stamp bearing their portraits. The Canberra suburb of Hume was named after him, as was the federal electoral Division of Hume.

In 1828, Hume journeyed with with another celebrated early Australian explorer Charles Sturt into western New South Wales, where they discovered the Darling River. This was Hume’s last expedition.

Hume and his wife Elizabeth settled in Yass living in Cooma Cottage. He had local farming interests and served as a Yass  magistrateuntil his death on 19 April 1873.

Hume will always be remembered as an excellent explorer, a first-rate bushman who was courageous and resourceful.  Hume had a good knowledge of some of the local aboriginal people, was always able to avoid conflicts with them, and appears to have learnt something of their speech.