A Centenary was celebrated in 1921 with a large event and again to mark the sesquicentennial in 1971.

This comes after the Mid-Western Regional Council agreed to celebrate Mudgee's bicentenary in 2038.

At an ordinary Council meeting in February 2018, a report by the Director of Community recommended moving the date to January in 2038, 200 years since Mudgee was gazetted.

They cited acknowledging the history of white settlement in the region and the impact that it had on the indigenous population.

It was suggested that Council consider a date that was more inclusive and also more definitive in terms of the establishment and founding of the town.

Councillor Sam Paine noted that when the celebrations were first established to coincide with the year of the first recorded white exploration of the region, Aboriginal people had no say in the matter.

"In 1921 when we celebrated the Centenary, Aboriginal people couldn't be citizens, couldn't vote in a federal election and couldn't go to a public school if a white family complained," he said.

Mayor Des Kennedy shared his thoughts when the issue was raised again during the April 2018 Council meeting.

"My two bob's worth is that one's a grey date, 1821 is a grey date. There might have been five or six blokes here in 1820 but they didn't like it and they went away", he said.

"1838 is not a grey day. It's set in concrete, that's the day that the town of Mudgee was gazetted. I've listened to everything and I agree with nearly everything said but one's a grey date in Indigenous history. That fact that they did it in 1971 and 1921, maybe they were wrong as well."

Councillor Percy Thompson suggested they could celebrate both.

Mr Kennedy replied, "You can do both if you want to. But it costs money."

Mudgee Heritage Walking Tours operator Ned Dickson has since rallied a group of fellow Mudgee-history buffs together to organise a day of recognition on Saturday November, 20 2021.

Mr Dickson stated he hopes to involve local organisations, schools and businesses to be involved in a procession traveling down Church Street to Robertson Park in Market Street.

The procession will accompany historical displays and cultural activities including art and music to create a family picnic atmosphere within Robertson Park.

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Ned described the proposed day as a form of "reconciliation", where the past could be highlighted, whilst ensuring the day is one of sensitivity and respect.

"I love our history, as lots of people know, and I just think it would be such a mistake to ignore it and miss it this year. We have a pretty significant history, we're the second oldest inland European settlement on the Australian continent," he said.

"We also want to acknowledge that both groups have lived here, and the Indigenous people have lived here a lot longer than us. We've invited the Lands Council to help out, so their help and guidance would make the whole event culturally appropriate."

Mr Dickson is waiting to hear back from community stakeholders regarding their support.

The "200 years" group originally intended to hold the event in March, but were forced to reschedule to November, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"November is significant because that's when a lot more people started to move here, and sort of a settlement started to sort of come along. The Cox brothers were camping here in November 1821. So it is significant, in a way, but earlier in the year in March is sort of more the date when they first came," he said.

"I think the Council's idea to do it in 2038 is fine, it's great because that is 200 years since the town was designed. But this is 200 years since the valley was first explored by Europeans and I just think it'd be nice to do something now.

"We can always do both."

Ned stated it was crucial for the event's viability that the Mid-Western Regional Council offered the group its support.

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