VANDALISM to one of Bathurst’s CBD icons has been described as an “appalling” act.
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A Bathurst District Historical Society volunteer found one of the curved brass hand rails outside the society’s museum torn from its posts on Thursday morning.
The society’s president Samantha Friend – who is also the manager of the museum and curator of its collection – was furious.
“This is a heritage building, one of the best buildings in Bathurst, and for some creep to come and do something wanton like that, it's appalling,” she said.
“And it was for no obvious gain. They did not steal anything. It's just damage for damage's sake.”
She said vandals did not normally target the museum.
Bathurst Regional Council has been informed, but Ms Friend expects the ultimate responsibility for repairs will be with the NSW Attorney-General’s department because the museum is part of the Bathurst Court House building.
“That’s if it can be repaired,” she said. “It might be so badly damaged that it might have to be replaced, which would be a real pity, because they [the hand rails] are matched all the way across.”
There are similar hand rails outside the Mitchell Conservatorium and the court house itself.
“It is brass, but I don't think it is original to the building,” Ms Friend said of the hand rail. “But it is still part of the fabric of the building. It is important that we preserve this building in its entirety.”