Gulgong Natural History Museum Project Not Going Ahead

Published on 19 October 2023

Last night, at the October Council meeting, Councillors were notified of Mr Michael Durrant’s withdrawal of participation in the Gulgong Natural History Museum. As a result, it was resolved to discontinue work on the project and to advise the funding body and community of the decision.

Council secured NSW Government grant funding for this project in 2022 with the proposed location at Red Hill, Gulgong. The project was intended to provide the region’s residents and visitors the opportunity to explore both local and international natural history collections. Mr Durrant had collaborated with Council to provide the displays from his extensive personal collection.

Without the partnership with Mr Durrant, Council cannot proceed, as the collection was a core component of the project identified with the NSW Government.

Mr Durrant thanked Council for its support and cited the reasons for withdrawal of participation in the project were due to a group of ‘naysayers’ who continue to make working on the project difficult.

Mr Durrant said, “he was sorry for the hundreds of Gulgong locals who had expressed support for the Museum and had wanted it in the town."