Broken Hill community jewel given much-needed facelift
Horse enthusiasts, school groups, punters, campers and tourists will be able to enjoy everything the Broken Hill Regional Events Centre and Racecourse has to offer after almost $182,000 in upgrades funded by the NSW Government.
The multipurpose venue, located on the picturesque red dust plains, has been revitalised with assistance of a Crown Reserves Improvement Fund grant from Crown Lands.
The members’ grandstand was completed in 1909 and has been a much-loved part of Broken Hill history but had deteriorated over time and was in urgent need of repair.
The upgrade has reconstructed the site’s infrastructure. Floorboards were replaced across multiple rooms in the grandstand and the verandah was resurfaced to make the site safer for visitors.
The rear awning was also restored to its former glory. The original doors to the jockey scales room were replaced with custom-built doors that closely replicated the original design. This was part of a concerted effort to ensure repair work kept the grandstand’s heritage facade intact.
The caretaker’s residence, located in the grounds of the Broken Hill Regional Events Centre, was vastly improved with a new roof, laundry, and paved patio area installed. A new boundary fence was constructed, as was a new rolling pen for horses to relax after a day of racing.
Minister for Lands and Property and Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:
“Multipurpose facilities such as these on Crown land play a vital role in strengthening communities by bringing people together and bolstering community spirit through a range of events.
“The upgrades to Broken Hill Regional Events Centre and Racecourse will mean locals and visitors alike can come and enjoy this large open facility in better comfort and safety.”
Member for Barwon Roy Butler said:
“The Broken Hill Regional Events Centre and Racecourse is one of the largest open space structures in regional NSW.
“The crown jewel is the historic members grandstand, which was opened to the public over a century ago. I thank Crown lands for helping to preserve this incredible part of Broken Hill’s history.”
“This is something that the committee had raised with me around three years ago, I am glad to see the work finally occurring to restore this iconic structure.”
Broken Hill Regional Events Centre and Racecourse chairperson Cheryl Krutli said:
“The Regional Events Centre and Racecourse is at the heart of the Broken Hill community. It’s much more than a racecourse. While we love horse racing in this part of the world, the venue is also a really popular camping ground and events centre.
“We recently hosted a science fair attended by thousands of school students. The kids were awed by the gorgeous grounds and thought the historic Members’ Grandstand was the bee’s knees. It is fantastic we will be able to host events like this for many years to come thanks to the funding provided by the NSW Government.”