The annual gathering of the Dalton Genealogical Society was held in Orange to recognise the significance of the family’s contribution to the city and introduce Australian members of the clan to the Dalton Database and International DNA Project.

Orange resident Robert Bruce, who is descended from James Dalton who built Duntryleague in 1876, spoke at the gathering about the Daltons of Orange.

His audience included members of the far-flung family who had travelled from Ireland, England and America.

“It’s a worldwide organisation for people connected to various strands of the Dalton family. The Daltons of Orange have only recently been discovered. They’re doing DNA testing of the male Daltons to link back to where they come from,” he said.

The gathering included a tour of significant properties in Orange which were built or owned by the Daltons, including Duntryleague, Galbally at Byng Street and Mena in Kite Street.

The meeting on Saturday, including Mr Bruce’s speech, was streamed live on to the internet.

Mr Bruce said the database and DNA projects were “fascinating”.

“It’s just a feeling of people belonging to something. It’s interesting to know how this particular Irish family has been spread all over the world,” he said.

The database will record more than 300,000 pieces of information about births, deaths and marriages related to the family.