An amount of $20,000 has been set aside in Bathust Regional Council’s draft budget to extend research on Aboriginal heritage currently being undertaken in the region.
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Manager of strategic planning Janet Bingham said council engaged consultants this financial year to carry out a study into the region’s Aboriginal heritage.
That study is nearing completion, with the final report expected in June.
The additional budget allocation will pay for more detailed research.
Ms Bingham said this year’s study will be quite general in nature, and the additional funds will allow for deeper exploration on particular aspects of the research in consultation with members of the local Aboriginal community.
She said the study is focusing on the history of Aboriginal settlement in Bathurst.
“Particular sites have a very high cultural value – for instance, Mount Panorama and the river precincts,” Ms Bingham said.
“They are not the only ones; there are others which will also potentially be included.”
As a result of the research, signage or publications may be produced.
Ms Bingham said council is also in the process of creating a “Surveyor’s Walk” that will visit key points in the city.
It will begin at the pillar erected by the NSW Surveyor to mark the end point of Cox’s Road over the Blue Mountains.
The walk will continue on to the Bicentennial Flag Staff – the point from which Bathurst and inland Australia were surveyed.
The walk will then continue to the existing explorer’s monument at the Bathurst City Community Club.
Some more interpretation will be provided in the town square to mark the meridian line from the courthouse, to the Carillon, to the cathedral bell tower and on to the flag staff.
The Surveyor’s Walk will also visit the Evans Memorial on Kings Parade before moving on to the Evans Tree at the Bathurst District Historical Society Museum.
Ms Bingham said the Surveyor’s Walk will be created in increments and then all the individual points will be tied together and detailed in a brochure.
“It will contain existing points of interest and new ones,” she said.
“The project has already started and we hope it will be completed by the end of the financial year.
“Dr Robin McLachlan has been a great help in putting it all together.
“It logically follows on from last year’s creation of the Delightful Spot walk and the Bicentennial Flag Staff.”
