THE Back to Bathurst celebrations brought several thousand former citizens back to the city in March 1924. It was the Bathurst City Council's plan to increase tourism in Bathurst. Our photo this week shows part of the well-turned-out crowd gathered in Machattie Park for the opening ceremony for the week-long celebrations.
Ex-residents, as well as numerous visitors, flocked back to Bathurst during the special week, which took place from February 23 to March 1, 1924, being a leap year.
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The mayor, Alderman J. Beddie, delivered his address of welcome as he stood on the flag-covered platform on the Band Rotunda.
The park was decorated with long strings of bunting and colourful flags that were draped around the park's buildings and trees. Organisers also saw to it that flags were flown throughout the city and newspapers reported that the city "looked very gay".
Thousands of small lamps were placed among Machattie Park's trees. Lamps also outlined Spencer Lake and various flowerbeds.
People walked around or sat on blankets and chairs enjoying the concerts each night in the central Band Rotunda. It too was outlined in lights. Each night, one or more bands of the Salvation Army or the City Band played popular tunes of the day.
An executive committee organised this week-long event. Messrs A.H. Dickens and H.W. Robinson were the honorary secretaries and Messrs R.S. Fraser and S. Beddie the honorary treasurers.
Senator-General G.F. Cox travelled to Bathurst on the train for part of the festivities.
Invitations had been extended to any living ex-mayors of Bathurst and their wives to be in attendance as well.
The committee came up with a long program of events that included race meetings, tennis (in which the champion J.O. Anderson took part), a monster sports display by the combined schools at the Bathurst Showground, a picnic on Bald Hill (Mount Panorama), swimming carnival and special church services in all churches.
The Salvation Army arranged for three bands, travelling from Orange, Mudgee and Lithgow, to attend the week. Their members were billeted by Bathurst residents.
The Bathurst Salvation Army Band, under conductor B.M. Vale, met the Lithgow Band at the train station and they marched uptown while they played. All three bands later had a mass band performance in front of the Town Hall.
On Sunday night, the Red Rose Cafe fed 75 bandsmen before they moved outside and played a massed selection in front of the Grand Hotel.
During the week, many local schoolchildren, Junior Red Cross, Scouts and others took part in a march to the showground that was led by the City Band, which passed under the edifice. The performance at the showground concluded with pupils making the word "HOME" across the main ring.
King's Parade was a mass of people with members of the younger and older generations participating in sports and novelty events. The main feature was the Confetti Battles held here each night, with £40 being spent on confetti in one night alone.
Between the Bathurst City Council Chambers and Town Hall and the Bathurst Fire Station and opposite the AMP building in William Street was a large arch which consisted of a timber and chicken wire framework covered in greenery. It was erected over William Street.
On top of the archway were three stacks of sheaths of wheat.
The Bathurst Champion High School Choir, which was composed of girls and boys, performed on the steps of the courthouse as well as in Machattie Park on a different evening.
Mr V.W. Peterson was the conductor of the group and Miss O. Naylor was the accompanist on the piano. High school principal Mr W.T. Cameron introduced each number and later thanked the students for their performance.