The site on Limekilns Road already features the sheep and cattle drome and it is located just eight kilometres from the city centre.

Renamed the Heritage Park Bathurst Cultural Precinct (HPBCP) earlier this month, the site is now managed by the Wiradyuri Traditional Owners Central West Aboriginal Corporation.

HPBCP chief executive officer Steve Hitchcock said the corporation was a registered charity and it had big plans to create a new tourist and education centre.

The sheep and cattle drome will remain, while Aboriginal educational workshops and an animal farm have recently been introduced.

Information and displays on the former army camp (established in 1940) and migrant camp (1948-52) will be included to encourage tourists and those tracing their family history to the site.

“We’re applying to have a caravan park and we see this as a tourist destination,” he said.

An Aboriginal camp and information area will also be developed.

“There’s already been $80,000 worth of earthworks done on it,” Mr Hitchcock said.

HPBCP already has the ability to accommodate and cater to 240 people.

Ten staff are already employed on site, however, once all activities are operational there will be employment for up to 45 people.

“We want to create a tourist destination so that people can not only come for the day, but so that people can stay, not just here but in town,” Mr Hitchcock said.

Wiradyuri elders were keen to share their culture with the next generation and Aboriginal education workshops are already taking place, with two Bathurst schools recently taking part.

“Aboriginal culture is now included in the curriculum for kindergarten to Year 10s,” Mr Hitchcock said.

The charity was yet to receive any government or private grants or funding, however he said it was actively seeking support to ensure the plans could become a reality.

Mr Hitchcock said an advisory board had been set up to ensure that “governance is so strong that money can’t be misspent”.

“We want to assure people that if they donate to help us in any way that there’s strong governance,” he said. 

“The ultimate goal of this corporation is to be self-sufficient, we want to do this without our hands out.

“We really think if we can do it right and manage it right it will be a place for the future generations, Aboriginal and non Aboriginal.”