The iconic Willows Museum building in Jerilderie is undergoing some significant improvements, with works scheduled for completion in June 2026.
The project, funded with a $239,174 grant from the NSW Government’s 2024–2025 Crown Reserves Improvement Fund, will deliver a new unisex ambulant toilet and improve disability access throughout the building.
Council is contributing an additional $3,965 for fire safety and pest control works, along with in-kind project management to oversee the project. Council will manage the works and subcontract specialist trades as needed.
The Willows, constructed between 1885 and 1897, is an important part of Jerilderie’s history. Originally the residence of the Wise Brothers, Irish immigrant flour millers who operated mills in Narrandera, Tocumwal and Jerilderie, the Victorian and Federation-style home is noted for its timber and cast-iron detailing.
Over the decades, the building has served many purposes — from a private home to a doctor’s surgery for the Jerilderie District Hospital, before being reserved for museum use in 1975. Its name, “The Willows,” comes from the willow trees planted by the Wise Brothers.
This upgrade is a small but important step in ensuring the building remains accessible and welcoming to all visitors while preserving its historic character.
