IN less than a month, a new cultural facility will open in Bathurst to tell residents and visitors more about the city's past.
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The Bathurst Rail Museum has been a project in development for years, with construction occurring alongside Havannah Street throughout 2019.
Mayor Bobby Bourke said construction was going well and will see the museum open on February 22.
"Planning for the opening is well underway. There will be an official mayoral reception on Friday the 21st for invited guests, with the museum opened to the public the following day," he said.
The purpose of the rail museum is to showcase items relating to the city's rail history and tells the story of how important the industry was to Bathurst.
It was for this reason that Bathurst Regional Council was eager to bring it to fruition.
"The story of rail is important to the history of Bathurst and Regional NSW. Bathurst was established as a gateway to the west with the rail providing a means of transport for people, stock and materials," Cr Bourke said.
"The railways directly employed a large number of people in Bathurst and drove the economy for the region in regards to agriculture and manufacturing. Ben Chifley, the 16th prime minister of Australia, started his career on the railways, with the museum telling this story in a dedicated gallery space within the public area of the museum.
"The establishment of the Bathurst Rail Museum tells the social history of the railways and the impact on the lives of the people of Bathurst. It is an important part of the Bathurst story."
People who attend the museum on the opening day will find a range of different exhibits to interest them.
"The star exhibit is the HO scale model layout the size of a tennis court with a light and audio visual display," Cr Bourke said.
"The museum also contains a dedicated children's learning and play space with the biggest permanent wooden Brio set in the world as well as other interactive elements."
Entry to the museum will be $15 for adults, $10 for concessions, $7 for school age children and $35 for a family.
Council will also offer a Museums Pass and annual membership, which will provide discounted entry options for visitors to Bathurst and locals. These will be available once the museum is opened.