Heritage Assistance Funds

Bathurst Region Heritage 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 very 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 1180 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 projects. The program currently funds 1) reinstatement and conservation projects, 2) interpretation projects, and 3) the protection of validated Aboriginal Objects, subject to eligibility criteria and conditions.

Important information

• The 2025/2026 round of heritage grants will not support external painting and roof replacements unless that work is to a local or state heritage listed item.
• Conservation or reinstatement works, and projects that propose to protect a valid Aboriginal Object 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.
• 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 will be a maximum of $5,000 with a no more than 50% of the project value except for applications made by community/not for profit groups for community projects.
• All successful applications will be ranked according to a funding priorities schedule. Lower ranked projects are unlikely to receive $5,000. 

Eligible projects include one or more of the following:

• A conservation project that relates to a heritage item or a building over 50 years of age.
• A project that reinstates external original fabric on a local or state heritage item.
• A project that improves structural integrity of a heritage item or building over 50 years of age, 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 valid Aboriginal Object.

Projects not eligible for funding:

Conservation/Maintenance

• Roof and gutter replacements, unless the material type is like-for-like conservation work on a heritage item.
• 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.
• Chemical damp proofing.
• Resin injection.
• Rising/falling damp alleviation methods 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 obtrusive additions or inappropriate signage.
• Repair or replacement of underfloor timbers or timbers in the roof space.
• Repairs to a front fence that is not historic (i.e. original to the building) and is not part of a heritage item.
• Any other 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.
• 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.

Interpretation/Promotion

• Publication/printing of second additions.
• 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.