A commemorative tree planting marked the 175th Anniversary of Orange’s proclamation as a village, taking place within Orange Botanic Gardens last week.

Community organisations, school communities and residents were among those who attended the morning celebration, which began with an Acknowledgement to Country from Aunty Alice on behalf of the Aboriginal Land Council.

“It is a very special day,” Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said. “This anniversary gives us an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the community of Orange – over the past 175 years.

“It’s been a long journey that began with what was a sleepy few huts and a collection of dirt tracks. Today, Orange is one of the major regional cities of inland NSW, and Australia.

“We’re now a prosperous, multifaceted and multicultural city that has much to offer in education, health, commerce, mining, viticulture, horticulture, agriculture, cultural, sporting and leisure activities.”

Orange was proclaimed a village on November 18, 1846, and the proclamation appeared in the government gazette that same week. It was given its name by then surveyor-general, Major Thomas Mitchell, in honour of Prince William of Orange.

Before then, Orange was known as Blackman’s Swamp, after the chief constable of Bathurst, John Blackman.

What was formerly farmland, with an old homestead and a dairy, is where the Orange Botanic Gardens is proudly situated today. Cr Kidd explained, “Back in 1979-80 people said this was a terrible site for a Botanic Gardens. (They said) it was too far out of town – no one would go to it, among other reasons.

“Well,” he smiled, “It’s a saying, ‘from little things, big things grow’, and from that time the Botanic Gardens has become a very important part of Orange, and this garden will be here for many, many centuries to come. It will continue to grow, and it will be a really important part of everyone’s lives here in Orange, which is why this is a great place to be celebrating today,” Cr Kidd said.