It was terrific to be on hand for the event, which is a terrific example of what can be achieved when local communities and the NSW Government work hand in hand.

The museum is a wonderful nod to the rich history of Gulgong and its importance to the wider Mid-Western region.

It features some wonderful photos taken in the 1870s of some of the buildings in the area, which have been in display in the State Library of NSW.

The museum is located in two of the Mayne Street buildings that were part of the initial batch of photographs taken by Henry Beaufoy Merlin and Charles Bayliss, which were eventually purchased by a miner by the name of Bernhardt Otto Holtermann.

I urge anyone who is travelling to the Gulgong or Mudgee areas to do themselves a favour and visit this unique piece of history, which is now part of the terrific tourism offerings we have in the region.

Speaking of tourism, it was awesome to see so many people converge on Dubbo and Wellington over the weekend for the DREAM Festival.

On Friday night the atmosphere was terrific at the Fong Lees Lane event, which highlights the unique blend of cultures that have made Wellington the town it is today.

Then on Saturday the annual DREAM Festival Lantern Parade and night market was held in Talbragar Street and into Victoria Park, with a phenomenal number of residents taking part.

Events such as these are an example of what is so great about regional communities like ours. They are examples of people working together to celebrate the great things in our towns and regional cities, especially at a time when so many people are doing it tough as a result of the drought.

I congratulate the organisers for a job well done and thank those that attended for supporting all of the events.

As the current drought continues to take its toll, I'm encouraging local businesses to list on the new 'Buy Regional' hub, which is connecting metropolitan shoppers with our local small businesses in the lead-up to Christmas.

Over the past week or so we've seen the success of the #buyfromthebush campaign, and what the NSW Government is hoping to achieve is further that by showcasing regional shops and sellers in one place, to make it easy for shoppers to both find the perfect Christmas gift and support regional NSW.

If you are a small business owner and want to get involved in the Buy Regional hub, please send your details to buyregional@dpc.nsw.gov.au