BATHURST Regional Council is bringing all their museums under one banner, a move that is expected to improve management and tourism opportunities.
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The city currently has three council-run museums, with a further two cultural facilities in development.
Instead of having them function as completely separate entities, council has brought them all under the umbrella of Museums Bathurst, the new name and brand encompassing all five.
The idea has been in development for several years and is being launched now that the Bathurst Rail Museum is close to opening.
"With the development of the Bathurst Rail Museum it gave us four museums, so council reflected on that and decided that we had enough museums now to develop a museums unit," museums manager Janelle Middleton said.
"We've reviewed everything, all our logos and all our branding, we've looked at our opening hours to try and get a more consistent approach across all the museums."
As a result, the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, the National Motor Racing Museum and Bathurst Rail Museum will all be open from 9am to 4.30pm six days a week.
Chifley Home, which will extend its days of operation from three to six, will have tours at 11.30am and 1pm.
The other facility to fall under Museums Bathurst is the Central Tablelands Collections Facility, however this has yet to be constructed.
Each facility will be closed one day each week to allow for back of house work.
The closures are as follows:
- National Motor Racing Museum: Tuesdays
- Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum: Wednesdays
- Chifley Home: Thursdays
- Bathurst Rail Museum: Thursdays
In addition to this change, from February 21, information on all the museums will be contained to a single new website, with the facilities' individual websites to be shut down.
Mayor Bobby Bourke said the exciting thing about Museums Bathurst is the new ticketing options.
There will be a Museum Pass, which covers single entry to all museums, and annual memberships for individual or all museums.
He said the Museum Pass in particularly will aid in tourism and people will be be encouraged to go to multiple facilities when they visit any museum.
"Combining all the tickets into one, to have the opportunity to visit all those museums, it just keeps those visitors in town a lot longer," Cr Bourke said.
Museums Bathurst will also ensure a more professional approach to the running of the city's museums, with staff working as close-knit unit to manage and promote all of the facilities.
Ticketing information
Museum Pass
- Covers single entry to all museums, which is valid for two weeks, and offers a 10 per cent discount on retail items excluding the Rail Museum Café.
- Prices: Adult $45 | Concession $30 | Family $105 | School-age Child $21
Annual Membership Single Museum
- Covers annual entry to one of the four museums, including a 10 per cent discount on retail items excluding the Rail Café and a 10 per cent discount on entry for visiting friends and relatives.
- Prices: Adult $50 | Concession $40 | Family $100 | School-age Child $25
Annual Membership All Museums
- Covers entry for all four museums, including a 10 per cent discount on retail items excluding the Rail Café and a 10 per cent discount on entry for visiting friends and relatives.
- Prices: Adult $150 | Concession $120 | Family $300 | School-age Child $75
