GETTING down to the nuts and bolts of the Moulamein Heritage Village, everything moved and restored has a story to tell.
From the woolshed, horse stables to the old school building, history is showcased and conserved for current and future generations in what is thought to be the oldest town in the NSW Riverina.
The heritage village will be a living, breathing experience for tourists, school children and residents, with the ability to offer educational programs and heritage preservation experiences.
The bold venture took another step towards opening early next year, with the NSW Government last week announcing funds of $228,000 through the Creative Capital program for finishing touches including a sealed carpark, wide concrete paths, solar lighting, wheelchair-friendly outdoor tables and chairs and sun shelters.
Minister for the Arts and Tourism Ben Franklin said the Moulamein Heritage Village was one of 82 projects sharing in $11.7 million under the second round of minor works and equipment projects.
"Once complete, the Moulamein Heritage Village will become a significant tourist attraction and community asset, providing a venue for community events, social functions, education forums and cultural events," Mr Franklin said.
Moulamein Development Committee secretary-treasurer Deidre Hindmarsh said the latest grant meant the project had received more than $1 million since 2020.
It would also provide funds for an impressive entrance and exit using four repurposed diagonal struts from the timber-truss Gee Gee bridge, built in 1929, over the Wakool River on Noorong Road. The bridge was replaced by a concrete structure in 2020.
"Hopefully, by the end of the year, the physical build of the heritage village will be completed," Ms Hindmarsh said.
"We have received generous donations of historical farm machinery and vehicles that are housed in the buildings at the moment.
"We have one more grant to put up a new open frontage shed to house the valuable machinery that needs to be under cover.
"Then it will just be a matter of curating the exhibitions, books and memorabilia to have it open by early next year."
With no funds to employ staff, the village will be reliant on local volunteers to staff the information centre and welcome visitors.
"The old school building was earmarked and fitted out with generous funds from the local 200 Club, heritage and council grants to make it a modern space inside with airconditioning and polished floors," Ms Hindmarsh said.
"We envisage to staff the centre with volunteers from the Moulamein area and open the complete site to the public.
"Many buildings these days in country areas you can walk in, press a button and hear stories from an old shearer, for example.
"We want to make it as free and easy to come in without making a booking, to wander through at your own leisure."
Ms Hindmarsh said the Moulamein Heritage Village was the brainchild of the development committee that started in 2017.
"The idea was to have a place to showcase Moulamein as the oldest town in the Riverina," she said.
"There are significant other buildings in the town like the courthouse and wharf on the Edward River, so we envisage this will bring tourists to Moulamein off the Sturt Highway to stay a night at the caravan park, local pub or cabins, and wander or drive around the town.
"We have strong ties with Swan Hill and already staff at the info centre there said they will refer tourists to us, we already have people coming over from Echuca-Moama and Barham.
"By helping each other we can get a tourist trail together."
