Inherit: old and new histories, Orange Regional Museum's new long-term exhibition showcasing the significant history of the region, opens on Saturday 5 September.
Inherit brings together both familiar and less well-known stories from across the Central West. Exploring our region's history, the exhibition highlights big events and significant personalities, as well as the lives and experiences of everyday people.
Inherit features more than 100 museum objects to tell these stories. Many are drawn from Orange Regional Museum's own collection, while others have been generously loaned by 42 community-run museums, public museums and individual collectors.
Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said he was delighted to take a sneak peek at the exhibition just before it opens to the public.
"This exhibition is one that will connect with everyone who walks through the door in one way or another," Cr Kidd said. "There are over one hundred artefacts from around the Central West on display, which is fantastic to see.
"One object which caught my interest is the can of 'Mt. Canobolas Ozone' which was sold as a novelty souvenir of the Orange Cherry Blossom Festival back in the 60s.
CAN OF AIR: Orange Mayor Reg Kidd with a can of Mt. Canobolas air.
"I encourage everyone to come and visit the Museum once this new exhibition is open. There is so much to see and everyone will find at least one item that strikes them."
Orange City Council's Services Committee chair Cr Scott Munro said he too believes this exhibition is worth the look.
"This exhibition is here to stay for quite some time, but that doesn't mean people shouldn't add a visit to their priority list," Cr Munro said.
"You could spend hours walking around the Museum looking at different artefacts from all walks of life."
Highlights of the exhibition include well-known pieces such as the silver Campbell Epergne, gifted to Amelia and David Campbell in 1864 for their heroic resistance of an attack by Ben Hall's bushranger gang near Eugowra, to more personal items such as hand-illustrated
notebooks, beautifully embroidered children's slippers and well-worn farming tools that speak to the lived experiences of past residents of our region.
Inherit shares stories and objects from a broad area of the Central West-Wellington to Cowra, Eugowra to Kings Plains-and visitors can expect to be surprised by the diverse histories, people and events that have shaped our past and present.
Coupled with the Museum's temporary exhibition space, where an exciting schedule of travelling exhibitions from museums across Australia are already being shown, the opening of Inherit in the long-term exhibition gallery realises the vision for the Museum in 2020 as a place that shares the unique history of the Orange region.
Falling into line with the Museum's vision, this long-term exhibition, Inherit will be a reliable fixture in Orange's cultural landscape for locals and visitors alike. The permanent exhibition focuses on regional history, leaving room for temporary and travelling exhibitions, also. The exhibition will also be a key feature for school excursions and other education programs over the coming years.
INHERIT: Orange Regional Museum doors.
Current COVID-19 restrictions are limiting events and activities that can be held at the Museum to celebrate the opening, however Inherit will feature in the Museum's upcoming spring school holiday program as well as in continuing online programs such as 'Mondays at the Museum'. The Museum continues to be open every day in accordance with its COVIDSafe plan, which includes monitoring of visitor numbers, a heightened cleaning regime and asking visitors to sign-in.
