Key project deliverables include:

• Procurement and demolition of 92 Macquarie Street.
• Establish a much-needed green, cultural and event space for locals and visitors to experience Dubbo's CBD and improve the accessibility and frontage of the Old Dubbo Gaol, one of the City’s most significant visitor attractions.
• Reclaim original footprint of one of the oldest buildings in Dubbo.
• Interpretive signage within the Plaza of significant cultural milestones in Dubbo's history.
• Increase capacity through the development of the Old Dubbo Gaol public heritage plaza.
• Public art installation themed “Community, Country, Connection: Finding Common Ground”.

Funding available for the Heritage Plaza is $5,010,614 available through the NSW Government - Regional Growth Environment and Tourism Fund and Dubbo Regional Council. This is to include building acquisition, demolition, landscaping and interpretation, relocation of underground services and kinetic artwork.

Whilst a number of key milestones have been achieved project construction has been delayed due to funding challenges as a result of increased construction costs since funding was applied for in 2018 and some site specific heritage challenges.

At its July 2023 meeting Council resolved to implement a funding strategy to support completion of the Heritage Plaza. The strategy involved reallocation of unspent funds from the Regional Growth Fund for the Wiradjuri Cultural Tourism Centre to complete the Macquarie Foreshore Events Precinct and Heritage Plaza. Council have engaged with NSW Government as funding partners on this request. The Strategy also involves Council applying for funding from the Australian Government to complete the Wiradjuri Cultural Tourism Centre.

• Project planning included review of project scope completed with internal stakeholders, adjacent building owners and heritage advisors.
• Extensive community consultation on detailed draft concept designs of the Heritage Plaza was undertaken February – March 2021 to ensure thorough feedback was received from all facets of community. Consultation included a range of formats, an online feedback portal, forums, face to face meetings and workshops with community and elected representatives.
• The concept images that were placed on public exhibition were developed locally and informed by Council’s Old Dubbo Gaol redevelopment and heritage preservation strategy which was developed in 2018. The concepts provide significantly more detail to plans submitted as part of the funding application in 2019. The concept designs have been informed by preliminary consultation with some stakeholder groups including local events, event industry specialists, musicians, community groups and cultural and heritage advisors.
• Following community consultation period, Barnson was appointed to finalise plaza design in line with community feedback and budget. An Environmental “Safer by Design” assessment was also undertaken by NSW Police.
• Immediate neighbours of the precinct have been engaged in the project from concept stage in addition to general communications to CBD businesses and the broader community.

A national art competition undertaken in partnership with Telstra to commission an Indigenous artist with a strong connection to the Wiradjuri nation one of the largest public art piece in regional New South Wales. All artists were required to adhere to a theme of community, country, connection: finding common ground. Following a rigorous process three artists were shortlisted to work with kinetic design company UAP to finalise concepts and their application in the kinetic art space. Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi & Wiradjuri woman, Dr Bianca Beetson was selected by an identified panel of community members, funding partners and arts industry representatives.

Project partners include:

UAP: Kinetic artwork specialist appointed to manage the design and installation of kinetic artwork

Barnson: appointed to finalise plaza design in line with community feedback

AGH Demolitions: Demolition services for 92 Macquarie Street

OzArk – Heritage Excavation and significant assessments

Graham Hall Heritage Architects – Heritage Impact Statement