General News
30 October, 2025
Bogan Shire Council’s heritage plan to be revised
Heritage specialists from NSW Public Works have been working in the Bogan shire this week to identify places of historical, cultural or architectural significance including buildings, monuments, landscapes and potential conservation areas.
Meher Bahl and Beth Robinson from NSW Public Works facilitated a community engagement session on Monday, October 27 at the Bogan Shire Youth and Community Centre for interested people.
About eight community members attended and gave input into the project, which has been grant funded by the NSW Government.
Ms Robinson said her team was reviewing a heritage study which was prepared for Bogan Shire Council in 2012, but not adopted.
Currently only the Nyngan courthouse and the Chinese Graves at the Nyngan cemetery are listed as state significant historical assets.
The Bogan Shire Local Environment Plan, adopted in 2011 includes the Courthouse, Chinese Graves, Nyngan Railway Station and goods shed and the railway footbridge – but no other assets.
Council was motivated to revisit the 2012 heritage study when it was revealed the Nyngan Town Hall, built in 1897, needed significant structural repairs, estimated to cost around $1.25 million.
Despite its age and significance, the Nyngan Town Hall was not listed on any heritage register and therefore not eligible for heritage grant funding. It was closed in 2023 until the repair work can be undertaken.
Once the revised heritage study is complete, council will consider it before placing it on public exhibition before adopting it.
Ms Robinson said once assets are listed on a heritage plan, they may be eligible for grant funding to preserve them.
She said it was a common misconception that assets which were heritage listed were unable to be touched.
“A lot of people ask the question of if it gets heritage listed, does that mean we can’t do anything with it? I really want to assure people that is not the case. It gets treated very similarly to development applications in bushfire or flood prone land - just an added check to ensure the work being carried out is a good outcome for that structure.”
Community members at the engagement session on Monday were keen to see the Town Hall repaired and used by the community.
Annie Quarmby said it was an important part of the town’s history and was well used before the forced closure.
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