From the discovery of the Bathurst Plains in 1813 and the official declaration of the town site in 1815 to today’s achievements, Councillor Monica Morse said Bathurst’s bicentenary celebrations would be all-encompassing.

“We want the community to celebrate the whole history of Bathurst,” Cr Morse said. “Not just what happened in the very beginning, but also sport, buildings and architecture, parks, the eisteddfod, changes in fashion, the arts – we want to tell it all.

“The idea is to make it fun and inclusive.”

The local bicentenary celebrations committee has been developing a list of activities to be held throughout the milestone year. Cr Morse invited community groups to contribute their ideas to the celebration.

“Things are definitely underway,” she said. “We’d like to see all facets of the community getting involved.

“Something we hope to do is have a ‘Peoplescape’, where members of the community can decorate cut-outs which represent people of note – a former mayor, Peter Brock, the matron of the hospital.

“There are so many things we could do: dance performances, school plays, dinners and functions.

“What we do know is that we will be organising a ball.”

Cr Morse said the Flag Staff Group hoped to commemorate the first structure built over the Blue Mountains.

“The flag staff was the point from which the measurements of the city were made,” Cr Morse said. “The group hopes to mark the site and have it declared as a historic site.”

It is hoped the strategic plan that is to provide the foundation for the celebrations throughout 2015 will be developed by October this year.