Orange City Council is developing a Heritage Landscape plan for Banjo Paterson Park.
The plan includes a detailed design for the proposed interpretative signs and other park features.
These elements will provide an opportunity to develop the sense of character of the site.
Deadline : Written comments on the plan are sought up until 5pm Tuesday 10 March 2020.
Background information
Located 5km east of Orange, Banjo Paterson Park was originally a small part of land which was owned by Simeon Lord, a highly successful emancipist entrepreneur. On his death the land was sold to the Templer Family.
PROPOSAL : A draft map of the Banjo Paterson park shows new features. The plan is now up for community comment. (Click to see larger image.)
John Templer had completed construction of the mill by 1848. The three-storey brick mill was made from bluestone foundations with ornamental lintels and sills of sandstone. A brick
chimney stood on the south-west corner. Power was supplied by a steam-driven beam engine.
The Mill closed in 1869. The mill remained unused for many years and in about 1970 the mill was declared dangerous and was demolished in 1971.
Australian Poet, AB 'Banjo' Paterson was born '8 chains north east of the Narrambla Flour Mill' on 17 February, 1864, at the home of his aunt and uncle, Rose and John Templer
at Narrambla.
A memorial to Banjo Paterson was erected at the head of the Park in 1947, and the park was gazetted in 1952.
For several decades the park has consisted of :
- the remnant footings of the former Narrambla Steam Flour Mill,
- an access roadway,
- fenced car park,
- a series of grass covered mounds indicating possible sites of the homestead Banjo was born in,
- outbuildings and dwellings,
- remnant exotic tree plantings including orchard rows,
- and a bronze statue of Banjo Paterson.
More recently the Banjo Paterson Memorial was relocated from the Civic Centre to the park due to the building of the Orange Visitor Centre and Museum.
Due to the recent popularity of Banjo Paterson through the Banjo Paterson Australian Poetry Festival, held in Orange in February every year, public interest in the poet and his place of birth
visitor numbers to the site has increased.
The draft plan, including a map of proposed elements, can be downloaded here.Banjo Paterson Park - Heritage Landscape Plan - Draft – Mill & Verse
