New date for historic Orange council meeting to celebrate 75 years

Orange mayor Cr Reg Kidd said council's next meeting on Tuesday August 17 would take place at the former council chambers in Anson Street.

The meeting was originally planned for Tuesday July 20 until Orange was placed in a seven-day COVID-19 lockdown.

Moving the meeting back to the old town hall is a nod to the first meeting of the OCC in 1946.

Council last met in the old town hall in April 2015 as part of commemorations of World War I.

It was the same place the council had met during the war 100 years earlier.

Meanwhile plans for NSW Governor Margaret Beazley to come to Orange to celebrate the council's 75^th anniversary with the planting of a tree had to be abandoned due to the current Greater Sydney lockdown.

Instead Cr Kidd and council CEO David Waddell planted the tree in Robertson Park on Monday.

Council also held a function at the Orange Ex-Services' Club on Wednesday night to mark the 75^th anniversary.

The tree is not the first in Robertson Park to have special significance.

A tree still standing was planted in 1953 to mark the coronation of the current Queen.

The white swamp oak on the McNamara Street side of the park has a plaque stating it was planted by then-mayor of Orange John Jaeger.

Planning is also underway to celebrate another city milestone later this year.

In November celebrations will mark 175 years since Orange was declared a village.

That occurred on November 18, 1846.

A report to council this year suggested council involve the business chamber and Orange360 to host anniversary events in November.

Suggestions included an Orange-themed trivia night, a theatre performance, morning teas and Raise a Toast to Orange events.

The council's website says Orange is located in an area known by early European settlers as Blackmans Swamp.

"Orange was proclaimed a village in 1846. Explorer and surveyor, Major Thomas Mitchell named the village in honour of Prince William of Orange, a general he had served with in the British forces during the Napoleonic Wars," it said.

"Prince William later became the King of the Netherlands.

"Orange was proclaimed a municipality on January 9, 1860 and the first meeting of the council was held at the court house, with John Peisley officiating as chairman. Orange began to develop as an important regional centre."

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