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Welcome to RECOLLECT

Summer Street, Orange, NSW

Recollect Central West

Central West Libraries Online Collections

Welcome to Recollect Central West a place to capture and share the history, heritage and stories of Central West NSW. It provides easy online access to a rich store of heritage material relating to the Central West of NSW, its people, places and events.

Central West Libraries is always interested in obtaining material to add to our collection. If you would like to donate photographs, maps, brochures, ephemeral material and archives relating to the region, please contact us via the feedback link if you would like to donate.

See Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

Central West Libraries acknowledges the Wiradjuri people as the traditional custodians of the lands on which we are located and pay our respects to them for their care and custodianship of these lands for over 40,000 years.

Please note that the names and images of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples may be contained within this collection.

Browse by Collections

Central Western Daily Negatives
Central Western Daily Negatives
The CWD Negative Collection, owned and administered by Orange & District Historical Society and comprises negatives of images taken by the Central Western Daily newspaper’s photographers from 1...
Timeline - The Mayors of Orange
Timeline - The Mayors of Orange
Timeline - History of Orange City Library
Timeline - History of Orange City Library
The Orange Wiki
The Orange Wiki
The Orange Wiki was launched to celebrate 150 years of Local Government on Tuesday 2 June 2006 by Cr Chris Gryllis. The launch was held in the Local Studies Room at the Orange City Library an...
CYSS Collection
CYSS Collection
Photographic Exhibition by Orange Community Youth Support Scheme titled 'Youth in Orange' an historical perspective.
World War I Honour Roll
World War I Honour Roll
Almost 2,000 men and women from the Orange district served in the First World War. 258 of them did not return, having been killed in action or died during their war service.
World War I Service Men and Women
World War I Service Men and Women
Almost 2,000 men and women from the Orange district served during the First World War.
Cemeteries
Cemeteries
Cemeteries are quiet archives of community life, revealing stories of miners, pioneer settlers, hardship, tragedy, and love. From marble and granite headstones to unmarked graves, these resting p...
Hotels of Orange
Hotels of Orange
By 1880 Orange boasted 33 hotels. The early publican’s licences were granted by the local Justices of the Peace who assembled annually for that purpose. Before a licence was granted it was nece...
Blayney Shire Local and Family History Group
Blayney Shire Local and Family History Group
Blayney Shire Local and Family History Group maintains a growing collection of historical items from the Blayney region with the main aim to encourage and promote interest in local and family his...
Reverend J C McDonald M A Album
Reverend J C McDonald M A Album
Album presented to The Reverend J C McDonald M A on his Departure from Orange in Appreciation of Public and Patriotic Services, February 1919.
Forgotten Diggers
Forgotten Diggers
This project will install 50 headstones for World War I Soldiers who returned from overseas and were buried in unmarked graves at Orange Cemetery.
Significant buildings of Orange
Significant buildings of Orange
Orange has a rich stock of significant buildings, each with its own architectural style, some built as early as the 1850s. This collection has been compiled for school research and general int...
Streets of Orange
Streets of Orange
Streets of Orange is an online collection that records and depicts photographs that relate to Orange streets and roads.
A Day in the Life of Orange
A Day in the Life of Orange
A Day on the Life of Orange is a collection of 95 photographs taken by Orange citizens on 26 March 2004.
Email Oral History Project
Email Oral History Project
As part of the 50th Anniversary for Email Ltd whitegoods factory in Orange, NSW, a project was developed to celebrate 50 years of operations.
Wellwood Collection
Wellwood Collection
The Wellwood Collection was gifted to Orange City Council by Charles Sturt University in December 2009. It is a rare collection of paintings, photographs, books and newspaper clippings documenti...
Monuments and Memorials
Monuments and Memorials
Monuments and Memorials is an online collection that records the public monuments and memorials in Orange and district.
COVID-19 Oral Histories
COVID-19 Oral Histories
Staff were interviewed on changes to public library services and community needs during COVID-19.
Orange Family History Group
Orange Family History Group
A collection of newsletters created quarterly in partnership with Central West Libraries.
Sharing photographs and memories of Cook Park, Orange
Sharing photographs and memories of Cook Park, Orange
This collection has been established as a place where the community can share their memories and photographs of Cook Park, Orange, NSW.
Orange Lions Club Time Capsule
Orange Lions Club Time Capsule
The collection contains items from the time capsule which was unearthed in 2023 after being buried for 50 years.
Orange City Library
Orange City Library
Orange City Library maintains a collection of historical photographs, images, documents and ephemera of Orange and district.
Orange Festival of Arts
Orange Festival of Arts
Orange Festival of Arts was held in Orange between 1965 and the 1980s.
Orange Civic Theatre
Orange Civic Theatre
The Orange Civic Theatre Collection comprises printed programs produced for plays, musicals, concerts, theatre productions, dance and school performances. Programs were produced to advertise what...
Mayors of Orange
Mayors of Orange
Orange City Library holds a collection of photographs and biographic information of the mayors of Orange from 1860 to present day. This information can be utilised for research purposes.
Banjo Paterson Writing Award winners
Banjo Paterson Writing Award winners
The Banjo Paterson Writing Awards were introduced in 1991 by the Banjo Paterson Committee, the awards are now supported by Orange City Council and Central West Libraries.
Orange City Council
Orange City Council
Orange City Library maintains a growing collection of historical items from the Orange City Council. These items contain images, reports, programs and ephemeral material.
Orange & District Historical Society
Orange & District Historical Society
Orange & District Historical Society are dedicated to preserving the history of Orange and District. The Society holds regular sessions for groups and individuals engaged in researching, docum...
Maps and Plans
Maps and Plans
Orange City Library holds maps and plans of Orange and district. The collection includes: • topographic maps • early subdivision plans • early Orange drainage maps • early Town of Ora...

Explore our Highlights

The Digger's Christmas Tree Sports at Robertson ParkDuntryleague, Endsleigh House, Cook Park Gates, Rural School, Mena, Newstead Bowling Club, Boree Cabonne, Byng Methodist ChurchCarrington Club Hotel, OrangeOrange Civic CentreOrange Civic CentreOrange Civic Centre Town Hall, OrangeUnion Bank of AustraliaOrange City Council Members and Senior Staff 1987Orange City Council Members and Senior Staff 1983The Signal GantryMontage of photographs of Wolaroi College, Town Hall and Soldiers' Memorial Hall, Post Office, Court House, Rural School, District Hospital, Canobolas Shire Council Hall, Lands Office and portion of Mental Hospital. Orange District Band, December 1938World Record Twist Attempt, Lords Place, OrangeOrange City Library forecourtThe "Snobs" Mine, LucknowShadforth school busFirst Cobb & Co coach leaving BathurstGlasson, Coulson & McLachlan Office and Horse Sale YardsCoulson, Harton and Co, OrangeWool sorting shedMr Bert SilveriesonLawry's LorryLila, Elsie, Stan and Tom LawryMr Gander harvesting a cropMr Dick CornishPacking applesHorse team with wool balesCherry pickers, Orange districtStripping a wheat cropA Typical Wheat FarmShearing the sheepHarvesting wheatWarrendine homesteadCyanide Works at LucknowAerial view of OrangeHotel Canobolas, OrangeOrange Post OfficeMount CanobolasRifle Range Shed with graffitiRifle RangeRifle RangeRifle Range pit with detailRifle Range pitRifle RangeClare HawkeFestival of Music and Flowers, Holy Trinity Orange, 2007Festival of Music and Flowers, Holy Trinity Orange, 2007Festival of Music and Flowers, Holy Trinity Orange, 2007Festival of Music and Flowers, Holy Trinity Orange, 2007
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