Sydney-based artist and former local, Asher Milgate began Survivors in late 2009, interviewing local elders in an attempt to preserve the rich oral history of the Aboriginal community at Nanima, the Common, Bushranger's Creek and Curra Creek from between the 1920s to 70s.

The result was a series of photographic portraits accompanied by recorded interviews to provide an intimate storytelling process that will be on display at Dubbo at the Western Plains Cultural Centre in March.

What Mr Milgate could not have expected was the way the project took on a life of its own through the process of community consultation.

"These people have told their stories and it's from the soul," Aboriginal education worker at St Mary's Catholic School Denise Kelly, said.

"It's not just 'let's sit down and have a yarn', it's really talking from the soul."

While the exhibition does not take place until March, she believes that through seeing photos on the internet there has already been a ripple effect right across Australia that could help reunite families of the stolen generation.

"These people have survived," she said.

"They got knocked down, but they got back up again. They still know where their families are and they are coming back home. Families are going to connect through this, they are going to see the photos, so it's putting a lot of history into place."

Ms Kelly said it would be an eye-opener to Wellington's past with many people finally speaking out about traumatic experiences.

But it is not all bad. There are also a lot of beautiful memories recorded about life in the Wellington area.

Ms Kelly said as the stories of each individual overlapped, what emerged was a collective memory.

"Stories are as important as our language," Ms Kelly said. "They are our identity and where we came from."

There are stories from Elder Uncle Bill-Loo or William Carr, the oldest Wiradjuri man at Wellington as well as Elder Aunty Joyce Williams who talks about her childhood and memories of Nanima, such as the day the church blew away in a windstorm leaving nothing but the organ.

She said she hoped the stories would be something for generations to come.

Stories like those of prominent local figure Neville Brown offer a more recent perspective from his time growing up in the 50s and 60s as well as his work across 40 years campaigning for Aboriginal rights.

Mr Milgate said the process was like discovering another world.

"I know so much more now about Aboriginal culture and I have a greater understanding, but there is still so much I don't know," he said.

"There's a lot of talk about reconciliation, but a lot of people aren't doing anything about it. This is a grassroots level of understanding each other."

The launch will be on Saturday March 14, at 2pm, with a few surprises on the day, and the exhibition continues from March 7, to May 10.

"It is fabulous for us," Western Plains Cultural Centre curator Kent Buchanan said.

"We will be able to present another kind of view of Wellington.

He said Wellington was very central to the region and significant in terms of its history as well as contact history having the oldest mission in Australia.

"It felt like it was the perfect fit to the story to hear from the Elders," he said.

Chief executive officer of the Wellington Aboriginal Lands Council, Leanne Stanley praised Mr Milgate on his genuine and sincere approach to the work.

"I can see the sincerity and passion Asher has for our people and it is exciting," she said.

She believes more projects will be borne out of this one, providing a resource for future generations and she hopes also to see it later exhibited at the Aboriginal Lands Council in Wellington for local residents.