Bob and Sandra Curry’s important brick Victorian/Georgian building at 8 Piper Street, Bathurst was the original Milltown Police Station. 

The building was designed by colonial architect James Barnet. The kitchen and two cells were built in 1885 by John Dunkley, and the main house was built the following year.

The station played a pivotal role in the functioning of the tight-knit railway and milling community for over a century and is an important part of Bathurst’s history. 

It was used as a police station until the 1970s, after which it was used for accommodation for senior Bathurst police officers. The building was sold in 1991, with the area of land reduced to one acre. 

Sympathetic additions were carried out by previous owners, and the current owners have spent some time researching the colour scheme of the original building and have just completed work on the front of the building.

Tablelands carpenter/craftsman Michael Frisby lent his expertise in replacing verandah posts and recreating neck mouldings using the profile found from paint shadows on the wall behind the old posts. 

The posts, window frames and cedar soffit of the verandah were hand-stripped, revealing up to seven previous colour layers. 

The new colours were chosen using a combination of the uncovered colour schemes in consultation with Tablelands Builders painter Leslie Moulds.

“The building is fortunate to have its current owners so interested in its history, and positively contributes to the streetscape in the Milltown area,” a National Trust spokesperson said.