The funding will enable Stage 3 and final stage of the project.

This stage will be the creation and setting up of the interactive exhibition.

David Warner gave me a tour of the project explaining all the different section flowing smoothly from one to the other.

You can’t help but notice the theatrical overtones which no doubt have been influenced by David who has directed most of the plays performed by the Gulgong MAD Society and Maurice Gaudry who has acted in most.

From the moment you step inside you are transformed back to the gold rush days.

You are first greeted by cutouts of Spiro Bennett and his wife standing in front of a replica of the front of their house.

Then through to the photograph gallery and then to the courtyard where there is the full wall photo of Canadian Lead in 1872.

Also in the courtyard is a replica of the Sam Hand Boarding house with the sign beautifully recreated by Gulgong artist Jan Irvine-Nealie.

As you walk through the different stages you can’t help but be impressed by the beautiful handmade beams on the roof all made by David and the volunteers.

On completion the whole project will have cost around M$1.25.

The Government funding has been $500,000.

The financial assistance of the Gulgong Community and the in kind donations of the sponsors is enabling the completion of the project.

When completed Gulgong will have a world class educational, research and tourist facility based on the Holtemann photographs.

I will do another update once the visuals and lighting are completed.

I for one can’t wait for the opening of this magnificent attraction which is envisaged for June 2019.

Thank you

A huge thanks to the committee for their combined efforts to gather information and a very special thank you to David Warner for preparing the grant application for submission, it took an enormous amount of time and effort to complete. A very exciting day!

However, work goes on and fundraising continues, but the incentive to share the museum with the community and tourists to our region keeps our Gulgong Holtermann Museum committee focused and committed.

Found out more

Visit www.holtermannmuseum.com.au or call 6374 1844. You can also check out Gulgong’s other museums such as the Henry Lawson Centre or Prince of Wales Opera house. You can also experience an underground mining tunnel at the Gulgong Gold experience.