Les Merton

Heritage Park

624 Limekilns Road

Forest Grove

New South Wales

2795

Australia

+61 447 731 893

Project Running Now but Needs Funds

Heritage Park is to be an educational and historical project, based on the current Australian school curriculum. Please read the overview that follows: Heritage Park: An integrated community to be developed on the existing Bathurst site. Ideally located in the lush rolling hills of the Bathurst Plains with a picturesque backdrop of the mountainous Great Dividing Range, “Heritage Park”, comprising some 430 acres, is situated on land steeped in proud Australian history. Formerly the site was the Bathurst Army Camp at which many Australian servicemen were trained prior to serving in the war zones in Europe, the Middle East, Singapore and New Guinea during the Second World War. After the war the army camp was converted to Bathurst Migrant Reception centre and 240,000 New Australians passed through the camp between 1948 and 1956 to start a new life in their adopted country. Numerous significant memorials are located on the site, recognising the gratitude of all Australians to both the servicemen and the migrant families. It is estimated that about 10% of the entire population of Australia are direct descendants of those servicemen and migrant families who were in camp at Heritage Park. When the migrant camp closed down, the site became known as Rossmore Park and an educational facility was erected on the site, now known as Bathurst Sheep and Cattle Drome. More than 1 million Australian school children have stayed overnight at the facility. The existing buildings can house over 300 students and teachers, and the dining facilities can feed sittings of up to 200 at a time. The main clientele are major city-based school children generally 10 to 12 years old, although overseas school children are generally 14 to 16 years old. The establishment provides an introduction to Australian farm life and native wildlife though the zoological gardens. The show they attend includes sheep shearing, milking cows and a live animal display. In the late 1990s Mr Ray Pickard established the Bathurst Observatory on part of the site, and he has developed educational programmes for science students to study both near space and deep space. Bathurst Observatory also houses Australia’s finest collection of meteorites and mineral samples from outer space and includes a piece of the Moon kindly donated by NASA. Future plans for the observatory include the development of banks of remote-controlled telescopes whereby students in the northern hemisphere can study the southern universe during normal school hours. The educational courses have been developed by Professor David McKinnon of Charles Sturt University, one of the world’s most recognised educators. Development concepts for the site have been put together over the last ten years and have resulted in an approval being granted by Bathurst City Council of a 19-lot community titled development to include the following:- · An 18-hole championship golf course · 390 individual dwelling units · A commercial precinct · An up-grade of Bathurst Sheep and Cattle Drome including further accommodation · An up-grade to Bathurst Observatory · The development of memorial gardens and crematorium · A first-class cricket ground · An up-grade to Bathurst Zoological Gardens The developers intend to include a large community clubhouse, a 60-room motel, medical centre and a shopping complex (offices, retail shops, general store and post office, etc.), a planetarium and museum of natural science as well as tennis courts, an indoor swimming pool, full-size bowling greens, children’s playgrounds and further memorials and museums to honor the army and the migrants. The development for residential purposes is in three village precincts which are: · Lots 3 and 18 – “Panorama Village” 180 dwellings and a community building · Lot 4 – “Pioneer Village” 100 dwellings and a community building · Lots 5 and 6 – “Anzac Village” 108 dwellings and a community building The houses planned are all demountable 3-bedroom mostly with 2-car accommodation, a storeroom and substantial covered outdoor living areas. (See plans attached). The standard of the construction is extremely high and this form of housing is very affordable. When completed all residents will enjoy a safe, secure environment complete with a wide range of sporting, social and educational options to create a resort lifestyle at a very affordable entry cost. The residential components of the development are located in the centre of the golf course and well away from the educational precinct to ensure a peaceful environment. The everyday activities available to all residents are spread across a wide-range of in-house facilities and are unique in Australia.

$10Mil Up

To re-establish a model of the army camp that was in-situ prior to WW1 and 2, to do a model camp of the migrant camp that was on part of the property in 1940, up-grade the current animal show and zoological gardens that are run for school children and other groups and do a complete overhaul of the current accommodation for visitors to enjoy. We also plan to add an observatory where overseas students can be in a classroom environment and study the southern skies. It is also planned for a model of the goldfields to be put in place so this very important part of the Australian history be remembered by all.

Plumber, earthmovers