Dubbo MP Troy Grant toured the Museum this week and announced the $287,000 grant from the Club Grants Program.

“The cash is available for the project now.

“They’ve told me, the tender and contracts will be sourced locally. That means, local jobs and local connectivity.

Chairman of the museum steering committee, Chris Pearson says the money will be used for the construction of sympathetic and new infrastructure. Stages one and three, which is the further restoration of the two facades and buildings and the setting up of the interactive educational display, will be on-going. 

“Stages one and three still need community support, which has been amazing to-date and will continue to be so.

“The funding will help showcase the wonderful history of the Holtermann Museum including the negatives and photography which was captured in Gulgong’s pioneering days and informative years.

Two of the town's earliest buildings are to house an interactive educational and tourist facility based on the UNESCO listed Holtermann Collection - photographs taken for Bernhardt Holtermann during the "roaring days" in the 1870s.

The new museum space will be formed by a series of three interconnected multifunctional pavilions built behind the restored heritage street-front buildings. The first is to be used as an extension of the exhibition space and for temporary exhibits, the second an event space and the third a workshop space.

The museum design employs passive solar heating and natural cooling and lighting.

“The main street is doing two things – it’s celebrating its history and also providing attractions for a modern economy,” said Mr Grant.

“Tourists want to come to a community and learn about the past and have experiences in the town and I think Gulgong is really well positioned to keep that offering up for many years to come.”