However, the museum is in need of some love and attention.

The small band of dedicated members who are part of the museum's committee is thinning due to advancing age and others leaving the area.

"The situation is becoming quite critical for the ongoing maintenance of the museum," member Allan Stott said.

WHEN the Yanco Powerhouse was decommissioned in 1958, it lay idle and fell into disrepair and was vandalised.

Yanco Agricultural High School was holding reunions of "old boys" and serious discussions took place that the history of southern NSW and the MIA could be housed in the Yanco Powerhouse.

Some of these ex-students had a grand plan for the site to become a museum and tourist hub to showcase a "hall of history" in southern NSW.

The Hon PR (Paddy) Grace MLC, for the state of NSW, a local businessman in both Yanco, Leeton and other towns was foundation president at the Yanco and Murrumbidgee Districts Pioneers and Historical Association from 1968 until his death in 1975.

He and his associates had arranged for a meeting to be held at the Yanco All-Servicemen's Club in January, 1965 to discuss the purchase of the powerhouse from the Department of Works and Local Government.

A temporary committee of 10 members, headed by Mr Grace, was formed.

Each member donated 50 pounds, purchasing the powerhouse and the associated land for 500 pounds in 1967.

The land included the area the powerhouse stood on and other land on the west side of McCaughey Place, the latter being sub-divided and sold off as house blocks in 1982.

EARLIER In 1912, the water in the MIA had been turned on and the construction of the Yanco Powerhouse was completed.

The building was a steel and galvanised iron structure, comprised of two portions, the boiler room and the engine room and was situated adjacent to the Hay Canal and opposite the Yanco Railway Station.

A local Yanco resident, Mr HH Dare was the resident construction engineer, with Mr HG Carter as the first electrical adviser.

In 1913, a Mr Madsen was appointed consulting engineer to the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission and, in 1914, a Mr BE Houston was appointed resident electrical engineer.

Mr Houston left for WWI in 1916 and was replaced by acting resident engineer Mr Spencer Jewkes.

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In 1917, a coal supply embankment and bunker were constructed and 1922 saw the Yanco Agricultural High School receive power for the first time.

Later in 1923 the main building was damaged by a fierce tornado and, during 1940, the Yanco Powerhouse ownership was transferred to the Department of Works and Local Government.

In 1958 it ceased generation of power.

AROUND 1990, Laurie Withers was elected president and the first task was to raise funds to pay the rates for the land as the Leeton Shire Council could not waive them.

A grant from the NSW government and donations from Yanco and Leeton businesses and clubs allowed the rates to be paid.

Next, a collection of glass was organised to replace the broken windows and secure the building from the invading pigeons. All the dirt floors were concreted and sealed.

The committee was approached by Mr Ivan Evans to have a miniature train track moved to the vacant grounds of the museum and this was approved.

Mr Evans first thought the project could be in Waipukurau Park or a site in Wagga Wagga, but plans were drawn up and, with assistance from the Leeton Steelworks, tradesmen Terry Ward, Ivan Evans and sponsorship funds, the track and other infrastructure was completed.

A lease document between the museum and the miniature railway was drawn up with obligatory maintenance provisions agreed upon.

The caretaker flat was also connected to the town sewerage system during this time and was first leased out to the public in 1991.

Yanco Powerhouse Museum was officially opened by Mrs Eileen Grace and the administration block named in honour of Mr Grace and his family.

BRIAN Aird was elected president in 1994 and is still an active member of the 2019 committee.

During his time a wall was built between the east side and the picture room with all photos and frames displayed being restored.

Ian Peacock was elected president in 2010 and he procured a grant to replace the roof on the building.

Recently, seventy-five more windows have been replaced after more vandal damage.

A security system has been installed. Extensive restoration and erection of cupboards for museum pieces is ongoing and is now about 70 per cent complete.

A new hoist between the ground and first floors has been installed and the upgrade to the caretakers flat is complete.

A new storage shed has been built with dividing fence to separate the museum and the leased miniature railway areas for maintenance purposes.

The museum is home to many pieces of machinery, equipment and relics. With the miniature railway open to the community every month for rides and a morning out.

THE association continues to meet on the first Tuesday of each month at the museum at 6.30pm. Head along to one of these meetings if you would like to join the committee and ensure the museum can continue to be maintained and operational.

Like the museum's Facebook page to stay up-to-date.

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