THE beleaguered Anglican Diocese of Bathurst has welcomed some rare good news by securing the immediate future of one of its most popular local assets.
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Bathurst Goldfields, one of a number of properties owned by the financially struggling diocese, has been given a new lease of life after local firm Designer Events signed up to run the business under licence.
The new arrangement is already off and running – the Goldfields reopened for business last week to welcome visitors to the city for the Bathurst 12 Hour event.
The Bathurst Goldfields had been closed over the Christmas/new year period for its annual shutdown.
I really want to bring it to life and let the community know it is up there.”
Designer Events’ Debbie Campbell said the move secured the jobs of 25 people already working at the Goldfields, and she hopes to employ more locals as the venue’s fortunes improve.
“We hope to work off the existing platform and supply Bathurst with another fabulous venue,” she said.
Ms Campbell said the Designer Events team is very excited to take on this new challenge.
She said with more than 20 years of experience in events, functions and accommodation, she hopes to work with the community and take Bathurst Goldfields to the next level.
Ms Campbell said it appeared a lot of people in Bathurst aren’t aware of what an excellent facility it is.
“I think it has been very underutilised,” she said. “There is a 20-room motel, a dorm that accommodates 260 people, a gold panning museum, facilities for damper making and blacksmithing, a big training room for conferences, and a function centre.
“It is perfect for weddings, parties, even kids’ birthdays.
“I really want to bring it to life and let the community know it is up there.”
Ms Campbell said the Bathurst Goldfields is enormously popular with school groups.
She said 28,000 children a year from all over the state come and stay as part of school excursions.
Ms Campbell added that she is also looking at introducing retreats.
She said every year Christian schools hold retreats in various locations and she believes the Bathurst Goldfields would be the perfect venue, offering plenty of peace and quiet, restful water wheels and plenty of bushland.
It is on iconic Mount Panorama and is also close to town and all the other tourist attractions the city offers.
Ms Campbell said one of the race drivers she was speaking to last week said they had been coming up to the mountain for years and had no idea the venue was there.
Bishop Ian Palmer said the Bathurst Goldfields experience was enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year and was a great way to get in touch with the pioneering history of the region.
“We apologise to any patrons who have been inconvenienced during the past month, but I am very pleased that we have been able to work with Debbie Campbell to put in place this new arrangement for the Goldfields and we look forward to it continuing as a major tourist and hospitality attraction in our city,” he said.
Bishop Palmer said he was pleased the tourist attraction had been able to reopen under Ms Campbell’s leadership.
