Australian CamperTrailers
national meet at Gulgong 2015

holtermann museum
auction feedback

photo of the two buildings from the Holtermann Collection taken in 1872

The auction has developed into its own night at the Australian CamperTrailers Group national meet & each year a worthwhile charity or fundraiser is nominated through local consultation to where the money raised is best directed from items donated by members & local businesses.

At the 2015 national meet held in the Gulgong Showground NSW, proceeds from the auction night were in aid of the Gulgong Holtermann Collection. The community based association was established to conserve & promote Gulgong’s rich gold rush history through the restoration of two of its earliest buildings to house an interactive educational & tourist facility based on the renowned Holtermann photographs taken during the town’s “roaring days” in the 1870’s.

Local real estate Bruce McGregor, who is also a member of the Gulgong Holtermann Collection Committee &  auctioneer, provided an entertaining night as a total of 60 items were bid on donated by members & local businesses. The proceeds totalled $3,300. Another $300 was raised from the gold coin entry to Tuesdays trivia night. 

update

Bruce has been keeping us up to date on how the restoration of the two buildings have been proceeding. A colour scheme was decided on & an application has been applied for to have the buildings heritage listed.  Some original building material has been sourced & stored for future restoration work.

There have been a number of working bees since the Australian CamperTrailers Groups visit in September 2015. The Greatest Wonder of the World building has been re-roofed & a new facade erected, painted & sign written, as the original building looked back in the 1870's.

The State Library has donated the vast majority of images from its "The Greatest Wonder of the World" exhibition held in Sydney in 2013 which will allow the museum to get off to a flying start. Famous Australian author & historian Thomas Keneally has a greed to be the Gulgong Holtermann Museums patron.

Thanks to Bruce for keeping us informed & we look forward to future updates as the restoration of the buildings continue.

Gulgong Holtermann Museum update July 2016

 

Holtermann Museum visit November 2016

While in Gulgong recently (November 2016) we dropped into local real estate Bruce McGregor who is also a member of the Gulgong Holtermann Collection Committee &  the auctioneer at the auction night during our 11th national meet which we had raised money for. Bruce took us across the road to see the ongoing restorations of the two buildings which will house an interactive educational & tourist facility based on the renowned Holtermann photographs taken during the town’s “roaring days” in the 1870’s.

Unfortunately when the 'American Tobacco Warehouse & Fancy Goods Emporium' walls were stripped they found the framework had been extensively damaged by whiteants. We caught Maurice Grudry & David Warner in the process of building a whole new frame.

Internal restorations of the 'Greatest Wonder of the World' building is well advanced & is a credit to the volunteers who are providing labour.  

inside the American Tobacco Warehouse	inside the Greatest Wonder	inside the Greatest Wonder

Holtermann Museum visit March 2021

During our recent visit to Gulgong in March 2021 we were delighted to see the Gulgong Holtermann Museum project finally finished. The restoration of the two buildings, inside & out, additions of a courtyard & cinema have all been complete by dedicated volunteers.

Displayed on the walls are large photos of Gulgong during the gold rush days, complimented by an number of computer screen user interactive digital images. A series of short films can be seen in the cinema. 

The Australian CamperTrailers Group was one of the many who supported the Holtermann Museum Committee fund raising activities. Gulgong Showground was the venue for the groups 2015 national meet, where we raised $3,300 at an auction night plus another $300 from the gold coin entry to the trivia night on the Tuesday evening. Proceeds were donated to the Gulgong Holtermann Collection.

Next time you visit Gulgong drop in & have a look, definitely worth the visit.

info by Rob

january 2016

updated march 2019

updated march 2021