All aboard for the annual heritage festival

This year’s national festival coincides with the 140th anniversary of the first train rolling into Orange, which pulled up at 4pm, April 19, 1877.

Orange City Council’s Services Policy Committee Chair Ron Gander said the Orange Regional Museum had joined with the team at the Orange railway station and the Orange Historical Society to mark the occasion.

“Connecting Orange to the railway network was a significant event which boosted the population and the economy and helped transform the area into what it is today, so it’s a worthy occasion to celebrate,” Cr Gander said.

“The Orange and District Historical Society and the local train station are hosting celebrations and a display of historical railway images is being planned for Orange City Library.

“There will be a free family fun day April 19 at the station with a birthday cake, a jumping castle and a barbecue from 11am, when the Sydney train arrives. No need to book just come along.

“But this celebration is only a small part of what is a much broader festival across the whole central west.”

The Molong Museum will make use of its historical kitchen to rediscover the types of food and flavours on offer over one hundred years ago with Sydney Living Museum’s gastronomer, Jacqui Newling.

The Banjo Paterson Museum at Yeoval is planning tours and Eugowra’s annual Village of Murals will see the town covered in artwork painted by visiting artists.

Closer to home, Wentworth Main Mine, Lucknow, will step back in time to the 1880s and host a picnic with all the sounds, tastes and games of the Victorian past.

Regional museums and historical sites will open their doors during the Regional Museums Open Weekend as part of the festival, Friday 28th April – Sunday 30th April, for locals and visitors alike to get to know the fascinating heritage of the central west.

All events and details of museum opening times can be found in the Australian Heritage Festival program, available from the Orange Visitor Information Centre or online at orangemuseum.com.au/heritagefestival

ALL ABOARD: A steam train pulls into the Orange railway station last year.