From its February 22 launch until the end of 2020, 26,000 visitors walked through the museum's doors, including 19,707 since reopening in June post-COVID.

Bathurst Regional Council museums manager Janelle Middleton said the attendance figures highlight the immense popularity of the museum.

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"These numbers have exceeded our expectations for the first year particularly when you consider the museum was closed for 3 months due to COVID restrictions put in place by the government," Ms Middleton said.

"We have found that the museum appeals to visitors of all ages and interests. The mix of ticketed and non-ticketed areas have been received well."

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The museum has been widely commended on social media as a venue where adults, children and passionate rail enthusiasts can feel enlightened.

"It [the museum] has a kids centre where children can play for an hour and a half with the trains, with a nearby café for parents to relax and enjoy coffee while their kids play...I recommend this place for day trips with kids," one social media commenter said.

"Many personal stories are on display and it adds a nice touch to this museum," another commenter said.

Ms Middleton said the consolidation of Bathurst's museums under the one banner [Museums Bathurst] earlier last year has helped council enhance the marketing of cultural facilities.

"It has provided the opportunity to market the museums together with ticketing, such as the Museums Bathurst pass that provides entry at a discounted rate," she said.

"The museums operated by council complements the other attractions that Bathurst has to offer by encouraging visitors to extend their stay and boost the visitor economy."

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Ms Middleton said 2021 will hopefully present further possibilities for Bathurst's cultural attractions should the COVID-19 situation settle to a level of greater certainty.

"We are hoping in a post COVID world that we will be able to return to our normal public programs and activities as well as developing others," she said.

"This year also marks the construction of the Central Tablelands Collections Facility, which will raise the level of professionalism for the storage and conservation of valuable collections across the region."

"This state-of-the-art facility will be the first of its kind in regional NSW ensuring the protection of the region's objects and stories for future generations."