Dubbo Gaol's Hangman's collection receives grant

A complete set of items used for executions throughout NSW, it is known to be rare but it may yet assume greater importance.

For the first time an assessment will take place of the national significance of the collection, which includes 13 ropes of various sizes, weights and pulleys, condemned man's mask, hangman's kit and gallows.

A $2000 federal Community Heritage Grant awarded to Dubbo City Council is allowing the stride towards preserving the community's history to take place.

Old Dubbo Gaol visitor experience officer Chris Anemaat said an assessment of the Hangman's Collection was important.

"The significance assessment will allow the Old Dubbo Gaol to make reasoned judgements about the importance of the collection and will allow for a better approach towards conserving and preserving the items, increase access and information and will also allow for future grants and programs to be created," he said.

This year a total of $386,577 in grants was distributed by the federal government 73 community groups and organisations from across Australia to assist in the identification and preservation of community-owned but nationally-significant heritage collections.

In addition, Mr Anemaat attended a three-day intensive preservation and collection management workshop held at the National Library, the National Archives of Australia, the National Museum of Australia and the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra.

"While the grant provides the funds, the workshop has offered the expertise to help us protect our collection and make it accessible while it remains in the local context," Mr Anemaat said.

National Library of Australia director-general Anne-Marie Schwirtlich said the Community Heritage Grant program showed the commitment by the National Library, along with its partner institutions and the federal government, to encourage communities to care for the nation's heritage, be it in small country towns or capital cities.

"It's all about working together to help spread the message that if we don't preserve our history now, it could be lost forever," Ms Schwirtlich said.

"Through sharing this knowledge, the information can be taken back to the communities where it is most needed to ensure that local heritage collections are still there for future generations."