It was a special day for Bathurst when NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian stood on the steps of the city’s War Memorial Carillon almost three years ago and announced funding of $300,000 for major upgrades to the iconic monument.
Today the value of that support rings proudly across the city.
The Premier has requested that Member for Bathurst Paul Toole be her representative today for the commissioning and opening of the refurbished Carillon and clavier in what is a historic milestone in its rich history.
Mr Toole said the Carillon has stood in the centre of Bathurst since 1933, and was built to honour the men and women of the region who served and died during World War I.
Over the years, it become a memorial for locals who lost their lives in subsequent wars and peacekeeping operations around the world.
“However, for decades Bathurst community had been trying to raise funds to complete the memorial and install a clavier – a type of keyboard for the bells to be played in the way they were always intended with the clavier controlling the clappers fitted inside the bells,” he said.
“Today, we stand here with at our War Memorial Carillon which is now complete, as the original design intended. The bells have been upgraded and the clavier and a new eternal flame installed.
“The Carillon is not just a monument, it‘s a testament to this region’s people and their dedication to their community and the sacrifices of those who have gone before them, and I am proud that the NSW Government has been able to assist with completion of this worthy project.”
Footnote: The Carillon originally featured 35 bells arranged in three tiers. In 2018, the arrangement was upgraded with the addition of a fourth tier and a top octave consisting of 12 bells.
Until last year, the Carillon was played via a keyboard and the system used electromagnetic hammers on the outside of the bells.
