The re-enactment was part of the festivities planned over the weekend marking 150 years since Ben Hall and his gang of outlaws stormed the city.

Russell Street was closed to traffic on Saturday as stall holders displayed their collections of bushranger items and other colonial and historic exhibitions.

There were also bus, walking and driving tours of significant raid sites, the cemetery and  Bathurst Court House.

But the most popular event over the three-day festival was the re-enactment of the raid at 2.30pm on Saturday.

William Street was closed off between Russell and Howick streets and thousands of people lined the street to watch the event, which included the NSW Mounted Police playing the role of 1863 law enforcers.

Ray Green, a Bathurst and District Historical Society member, and owner of the Overlander Coach and one of the Model T Ford cars on display, said the festival was a huge success.

“I was with the stage coach and we were extremely busy with all the people,” he said.

“Les Wardman spoke to the crowd and we had young kids hopping in and out of it all day.”

Mr Green’s Model T Ford, which has been in his family for 100 years, was also really popular.

“I was with the stage coach but I could hear its horn going all day, so I reckon everyone had a wild time,” he said.

Mr Green said he couldn’t believe how big the crowds were.

“When the re-enactment was on, the whole street from the ANZ bank was three people deep, so they had a hell of a lot of people there.

“And I had between 10 and 20 people continually coming to the coach all day,” he said.

Another highlight of the weekend was the opening of the Bushranger Room within the Bathurst and District Historical Society building on Friday evening. The room houses a full display of Edgar Penzig books and other memorabilia which was donated to the society by Mr Penzig in November 2007.

The Ben Hall Raid dinner was held on Saturday night and featured prominent bushranger historian Peter Smith as guest speaker.