MORE than a century after it first served the people of Manildra, a restored police lockup is set to welcome visitors at its new home in Molong, thanks to the dedication of local volunteers.
The Molong Historical Society will officially unveil the painstakingly restored lockup during a special community open day on Sunday 26 July, celebrating not only an important piece of local history but the volunteers who refused to let it fall apart.
Molong Historical Society vice-president Cameron Wild said the project had been far from straightforward.
Known to have been standing at the original Manildra Police Station from at least 1915, the lockup has had an eventful life.
It was later relocated to the town’s new police station before being sold into private ownership, where it slowly deteriorated in a backyard.
It was eventually saved by local resident Mrs Boucher, who swapped a garden shed to acquire the building before relocating it to her property.
Following her death, she bequeathed the lockup to the Historical Society, ensuring it could be preserved for future generations.
The restoration itself came with plenty of challenges, including one memorable mishap.
“We tried to move it in one piece,” Mr Wild said. “We got it across the road, and it fell off the loader.”
Rather than giving up, volunteers painstakingly rebuilt the structure piece by piece.
Mr Wild estimated around 24 volunteers, along with historical society committee members and skilled local tradespeople, contributed to the project over several years.
Donated timber was sourced from across the region, builders volunteered their expertise, and lifting equipment was loaned to complete the work.
“It really has been a huge community effort,” he said.
Historical society secretary Jan McIntyre said recent research through the New South Wales State Archives had uncovered new information about the building’s history.
“We originally believed it had been built in the late 1920s,” she said.
“But documents we’ve recently found show it was already standing at the original police station in 1915.”
While the exact construction date remains unknown, the discovery has confirmed the lockup is older than first thought.
The official opening will include a historical re-enactment inspired by a well-documented local robbery, bushranger songs performed by Jeff Tonkin, a sausage sizzle and family-friendly activities, including the opportunity to be photographed for your very own “mugshot”.
Mrs McInyre said preserving the lockup was about protecting an important part of the region’s story.
“If it hadn’t been for Mrs Boucher leaving it to the Historical Society, it probably wouldn’t exist today,” she said.
“And without all of the volunteers, it never would have happened.”
The open day is on Sunday 26 July, and all members of the public are welcome to attend.