Orange’s heritage listed Cook Park will notch up its 150th anniversary in November and members of the community are invited to join in the celebrations to honour the occasion.
The celebrations will include a picnic and the development of a community sourced photographic archive.
Orange Mayor Jason Hamling said Cook Park was a place of historical significance and a special place to many people.
150 YEARS: Orange City Councillor Mel McDonell and Orange Mayor Jason Hamling encourage members of the community to share their photos and memories of Cook Park.
“Cook Park and the country that it occupies has played host to many significant moments for generations of Orange families,” Cr Hamling said.
“From community events and family occasions to a casual picnic or quiet stroll, Cook Park holds many fond memories for the city’s residents.”
The 4.5-hectare block bordered by Summer, Clinton, Kite and Sampson streets was proclaimed a park on 30 November 1873 and officially named Cook Park, after Captain James Cook, in 1882. It was laid out in a traditional Victorian design with straight paths and rows of trees. Much of the original design is still in place today.
Orange City Council is encouraging members of the community to share their photos, memories and stories in the lead up to the anniversary. The material will be added to the Recollect Central West website, an online collection of heritage material relating to the people, places and events of the Central West.
Images will also be displayed on a screen in the Bastick Cottage as part of the celebrations, alongside an exhibition featuring the people who shaped Cook Park.
The community picnic day will be held in the park from 10am to noon on Saturday 25 November, featuring music and dance performances, food vendors, a cake cutting and commemorative tree planting.
Orange City Council’s Parks, Trees and Waterways Committee Chair, Cr Mel McDonell encouraged everyone to join in the celebrations.
“This is a great opportunity to celebrate everything that we love about Cook Park, from its history and heritage significance to its present-day appeal for local families and visitors,” Cr McDonell said.
