We were having a cuppa after planting the lucerne a little while back, and my mate Mick (the Sage of Wiseman’s Creek) asked: “Well, wot is it, wot’s this heritage you keep banging on about?” Mrs Heritage said “ it’s Things From the Past Which We Value, Mick” which is not a bad summary. So Mick says, “You mean my old combine harvester is a heritage item?” Well, it could be.
I said to both of them that I like to explain heritage as falling into these descriptions…
- Buildings and Places
- Objects and Their Stories
- People and Their Stories
- The Natural Environment
Value indeed is a real key, but where does the value lie? Heritage has strong social value as it reminds us who we are and where we have come from. Heritage also is a very strong partner in cultural affairs – the two go very well together e.g. art, music, museums. Our pic tells the value story.
BUT, heritage has enormous economic value too – it is a real economic asset, particularly for Bathurst, and particularly as a visitor attraction. Weave all four elements of heritage into the stories we tell visitors about Bathurst, give them a heritage experience, and they will stay longer, spend more money, will tell their friends, and will come back. This means more sales and profits for businesses, and more jobs for Bathurstians.
The challenge is to turn these assets into heritage experiences that the visitor can enjoy – Things like the Experience Heritage Bathurst walking tour brochures, Bathurst’s First House, Save Raglan Station, The Story of Bathurst, Bathurst Heritage Trades Trail – all initiatives of the Bathurst Heritage Matters community group.
Thought of the week …“humble is retiring soon, after column #350, so I would like to thank you all for your support and interest”
by a humble heritage advocate – July 2026
column #347
