Opened in September 2022, the Central Tablelands Collections Facility (CTCF) is a large 2400 square metre repository providing industry standard storage with climate control, specialised racking equipment and security for regional collections.  The facility accommodates valuable and fragile collections, archives and other significant objects currently held in public museums and galleries under the custodial care of Bathurst Regional Council.  It also caters for collections from smaller regional volunteer run museums, historical societies, collection groups, education facilities, private collectors and storage for larger State Institutions.  The facility also provides flexible learning spaces for hire that will continue to grow established industry partnerships with University of Melbourne’s Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation, M&GNSW, regional outreach programs and the working partnership with The Australian Museum via the Somerville Collection.   

The Central Tablelands Collections Facility offers: 

Collection Storage 

The facility offers the opportunity for collecting groups to store significant items of varying mediums to be safely housed in a variety of storage systems within two areas:    

1. 955 square metres of full climate storage with a range of racking options including pallet racking, compactus, longspan shelving, art racking, plan press or 2 door cabinets as well as open floor storage.   
2. 260 square metres of temperature-controlled storage with Pallet racking, longspan shelving and open floor storage.    

The building is designed and operated to minimise risk to all items with stringent insect, vermin, climate and security controls in place.  

Object listing and tracking is handled through a dedicated Collections Information Management system.  

Collection Services 

The facilities collections staff will be able to offer advice on services such as   

• Matting, boxing and crating of 2D & 3D items of items 
• Pest treatment 
• Image capture and digitisation  
• Collection cataloguing, acquisition, tracking, storage and reporting 
• Preventative conservation 

Digitisation Facilities 

In addition to digitisation space hire the facility will also provide advice on image capture and merging with catalogue data.  

The facility will be able to provide supervised access to various equipment including cameras, scanners, lighting equipment and image software.  The digitisation space can accommodate large collection items such as cars through to multiple batches of smaller objects.

Multipurpose Space Hire  

The following spaces are available for external hire 

Large learning/workshop space – This 145 m² space provides a flexible multipurpose space for workshops, training and meetings.  The room has access to seating, tables and smart board.  The room has the capacity to seat 60 people in a theatre/lecture setting and up to 50 at tables. 

Viewing room – This 24m² space provides a more intimate setting for meetings and researchers.  The room has access to tables and seating for 12 People. 

Digitisation room – This open 78 m² space primarily provides opportunities for image capture through photography, scanning and merging with data.  Hire of this space includes access to work benches, tables and chairs.       

For more information on the Central Tablelands Facility please contact the Collections Facility Coordinator on 0417 265 172 or tim.pike@bathurst.nsw.gov.au