THE Harden Gold Trail Festival has received a funding boost with the announcement that the Regional Gold Trail Committee is to receive $50,000 to better promote district events.
The Member for Burrinjuck, Katrina Hodgkinson, recently announced that the Regional Gold Trail Committee would receive $50,000 from the NSW Government to enhance signage and assist visitors to better explore the region’s gold mining heritage.
This funding has been allocated from the first stream of Destination NSW’s Regional Tourism Partnership Funding Program.
“This is a great win for tourism across the Burrinjuck electorate as well as our surrounding districts,” she said.
“I have strongly supported the Gold Trail Project since its inception in 2009, when I obtained funding for the project to make its initial presentations.”
Over the past three years, the Gold Trail Project has expanded its coverage to include attractions in 30 towns and cities in 10 local government areas. Six of these attractions are within the Burrinjuck electorate.
The Lambing Flat Festival in Young, the Harden Gold Trail Festival, and the Grenfell Gold Fest have been successful events held under the umbrella of the Gold Trail ,which has expanded over the past three years to include 30 towns and cities in 10 local government areas.
“The Regional Gold Trail Committee has also sought funding from the second stream of the Regional Tourism Partnerships Funding Program to further improve the Gold Trail,” she said.
“I recently wrote to the Minister for Tourism, the Hon George Souris MP, strongly supporting the Gold Trail’s continued expansion as a fantastic regional tourism attraction.
“The Lambing Flat Festival in Young, the Harden Gold Trail Festival and the Grenfell Gold Fest have been successful events held under the umbrella of the Gold Trail.
“The Gold Trail project taps into our state’s rich gold mining history and highlights the lasting contribution it has had to our heritage.
“I am very pleased that the Regional Gold Trail Committee has received this funding and I commend them for the fantastic work they do to improve tourism in this region.”
Mr Brad Thorsby, from Harden and president of the Regional Gold Trail Committee, said this week that he was delighted with the announcement.
He said the extra funding would greatly help further develop the Harden Trail Festival, which will be held on April 15.
The Gold Trail, which celebrates Australia’s gold heritage, includes attractions such as Young’s heritage listed Blackguard Gully, the Chinese Cemetery and Barnes Store at Murrumburrah and the grave of Johnny Gilbert at Binalong.
The trail will have improved directional and informative signage to guide self-drive visitors and tour groups through the region.
The enhancements to signage would promote exploration of the area to encourage longer stays and link a number of the surrounding regions to support all their strengths, including food, wine, natural attractions and other heritage centres.
Inland NSW Tourism is aiming to build visitor numbers to the area leveraging off these already popular and established events with an increase in nights stayed and to encourage visitors to explore and spend more in the region.
Email a friend