Heritage Assistance Funds

Bathurst Region Heritage Assistance Fund 

Bathurst Regional Council, with support from the NSW Heritage Branch of the Office of Environment and Heritage, offers the Bathurst Region Heritage Assistance Fund aimed at supporting local property owners and community groups to restore, repair, protect, promote and interpret the region’s heritage.

The fund, in its various forms over the years, has proven to be a popular and successful grant program offered by Council. Since the inception of Council's first heritage grant program in 1996, and the introduction of funding support for interpretation and CBD projects, Council has jointly funded over 1200 projects with a value of works completed of over $12 million.

In previous years, the fund was offered as three separate funds with separate applications and allocation schemes for each type. Given that interest has reduced for certain types of projects, Council has streamlined the scheme and has consolidated the three funds into one combined fund to ensure that funding continues to be provided toward the worthiest heritage projects.

In its 28^th year of running, the heritage grant program currently funds 1) Conservation and reinstatement projects, 2) interpretation projects, and 3) the protection of validated Aboriginal Objects, subject to eligibility criteria and conditions.

Important information

• The 2026/2027 round of heritage grants will not support external painting and roof replacements unless that work is to a local or state heritage listed item, or if the work responds to a recommendation in Council’s Main Street Study Review 2016 for that site.
• Conservation or reinstatement works must have a minimum value of works at $3,000.00 unless an agreement has been previously made with Council.
• No minimum value of works for interpretation, research and promotion projects, and projects that protect validated Aboriginal Objects.
• An applicant can only apply for one grant per year. Multiple projects at multiple addresses under one applicant's name will be assessed as one application.
• Grants offered will range from $300 to a maximum of $5,000, and no more than 50% of the project value except for applications made by community/not for profit groups for community projects. (E.g. if your repointing project costs $3,000, the most Council could offer toward that project is $1,500, subject to fund availability).
• All successful applications will be ranked according to the funding priorities schedule (see the Documents folder on this page). Lower ranked projects are unlikely to receive $5,000.
  
  

Eligible projects must include one or more of the following:

• A conservation project that relates to a heritage item or a building that was built pre-1950s.
• A project that reinstates external original fabric on a local or state heritage item.
• A project that is undertaken within one of the region’s rural heritage villages.
• A project that improves structural integrity of a heritage item or building that was built pre-1950s, e.g. underpinning, rebuilding/repair of brickwork, underfloor ventilation, rising damp/salt attack remediation.
• A project that implements the recommendations of the CBD Main Street Review, improves pedestrianisation of the CBD and/or introduces new public art into the CBD.
• A project that is undertaken by community group or not for profit group.
• A project that researches/interprets/promotes the history of the Bathurst Region (i.e. is not a conservation/reinstatement project).
• A project that protects a validated Aboriginal Object on private property.

Examples of eligible projects (not limited to):

• Replacement of a galvanised corrugated roof with the same material on a heritage item --- [Conservation/reinstatement projects]
• The external painting of a commercial building in the CBD using a colour scheme recommended in the Main Street Study Review 2016 ---[Conservation/reinstatement projects] 
• Repointing of brickwork in a lime-based mortar --- [Conservation/reinstatement projects] 
• The reinstatement of timber windows in place of where aluminium windows have been installed --- [Conservation/reinstatement projects]
• Chemical damp proofing or underpinning in a method approved by Council’s Heritage Advisor --- [Conservation/reinstatement projects] 
• The production and installation of a sign installed in a public place that tells the history of a building or area --- [Interpretation projects]
• The printing of brochures, books or other publications that reveal historical information about the Bathurst region generally or on a particular theme --- [Interpretation projects]
• The cataloguing of a heritage object collection --- [Interpretation projects]
• The acquisition of a Conservation Management Plan for a heritage building --- [Conservation/reinstatement projects] 
• Consultation with Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri groups to gain advice on how to best protect a validated Aboriginal object on private property, such as the installation of a fence --- [Protection of Aboriginal Objects projects]

See the 'Funding priorities schedule for 25-26 heritage grant round' document in the 'Documents' folder to see a full list of the types of projects that Council can support.

Projects not eligible for funding:

Conservation/Reinstatement

• Roof and gutter replacements on buildings that are not heritage items.
• External painting, unless the colour scheme responds to a recommended colour scheme in Council’s Main Street Study Review 2016 for that site.
• Additions, alterations and new works that are not original to the building.
• Rising/falling damp alleviation methods and underpinning that are not approved by Council's Senior Heritage Planner and/or Heritage Advisor.
• Repairing the structural supports under non-original verandah awnings.
• Removal of intrusive additions or inappropriate signage.
• Any internal work unless the work is to a heritage item AND is of such exemplary conservation standards that the potential for funding is recommended or approved by Council’s Senior Heritage Planner and/or Council’s Heritage Advisor.
• Repairs to a front fence that is not historic (i.e. original to the building) and is not part the significance of the heritage item.
• The protection of an Aboriginal Object that has not been validated by an appropriately qualified Traditional Custodian or First Nations person local to the Bathurst Region, or an archaeologist, and where there has been no evidence of consultation provided.
• Repair or reinstatement work that is not consistent with good heritage practice.

Interpretation/Promotion

• Publication/printing of second editions.
• Personal family histories.
• Interpretation or protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage not endorsed by a Traditional Custodian or First Nations group in the Bathurst region.

If you are unsure whether your project is eligible, please call Council's Senior Heritage Planner on 02 6333 6272.

How to apply

• You must log in to your YourSay account to make an application. The application is an online survey at the bottom of this page. 
• All applications must include a valid email address. This is the main way that we will be communicating with you.
• If you need assistance completing the online form, please request to speak to the Senior Heritage Planner on (02) 6333 6272.
• Paper copies of the application form can be provided upon request, however, a valid email address must be provided.  

Missed out on the 2026/27 round? Request to join the mailing list so that you will be notified the next time that grants applications are called.