Mount Kandos

Ever heard of a town called Kandos? It is the town that built Sydney. Been where limestone was sourced, turned into cement and used in many Sydney buildings, including the Harbour Bridge. With a present population of around 1200, the town was built in 1913 to house the workforce of what was once the largest cement plant in the southern hemisphere. In 2011 the cement works closed.  Being the major employer, this had a tremendous impact on the town. For some though it was viewed as a transformation opportunity. In 2013 local artists started a 4-day contemporary arts festival they called Cementa. This now bi-annual event hosts traditional and high-end electronic artists, robotics, multi-media creations, even parkour practitioners, as well as site specific performance and installation works which attracts thousands of visitors. Consider the parallels in the history of Kandos and Mount Morgan. With the Mt. Morgan mine looking less likely of ever re-opening should an opportunity for transformation be grasped, rather than just revive the town. If so, does Kandos provide the template? As I’ve said before, Mt. Morgan has the story, the products, character and physical beauty to be a major tourist destination, revitalising its economy. Events like the inaugural Gold Rush Hill Sprint to be held on July 14 will help further boost its national profile and attract more visitors. However, Mt. Morgan may need local passion redirected to re-imagine, drive and capitalise on its history and picturesque setting. No doubt there exists local passion for the town. The volunteer efforts in staging their annual Golden Mount Festival is ample testament to that. Would this passion also directed into transforming the town provide even more sustainable economic benefits? Like Kandos, not forget your past but put a new twist on it. Part of Cementa’s success, in transforming the former mining town, is to be a festival featured artist you must have done an artist-in-residency in Kandos or created and presented work related to the town in some way. This has resulted in some artists moving to live there as well as constant displays of artistic works related to Kandos being regularly displayed, physically and digitally. The town therefore lives and breathes its ongoing transformation into an arts town, every day, every year, not just the 4 days of Cementa. Transformation has to be determined and driven locally at a grass roots level for it to become sustainable and successful. Creating an arts festival and transforming into an arts town may not be the answer for Mt. Morgan. Mt. Morgan locals need to determine their own twist, as without their genuine buy-in any attempted transformation will most likely fail. It would therefore be great to foster and hear stories about Mt. Morgan locals striving for not just a revival of their famous town but also its transformation. From greater awareness may come greater help and along with it a greater chance of succeeding. Go up, enjoy the activities of Mt. Morgan’s Golden Mount Festival this weekend and think/share what new twist could be added to this town’s rich ongoing story.