Passage taken from the National Heritage Trust Website about the Old Council Chambers.

“The Shire Chambers building is a testimonial to the heritage style of building and is one of the few remaining historical buildings in the shire.  Due to progress most of the buildings of historical significance have decayed beyond repair and have been replaced.  It is imperative that this building be restored and utilised to its full potential as a reminder to future generations of the town’s past history.”

In 1913, a motion was passed by Council to build a Council Chambers and the foundation stone was laid by J P Bell, Shire President for construction of the new building in Fox Street, Walgett.  These Chambers served the Walgett Shire Council until they moved into the new Council Chambers in 1966.  Before the new building became a fact, Councillors debated on renovation and extensions of the old building, but voted for new chambers.

The Old Council Chambers building was constructed in the Federation style.  These included lead light windows, narrow and tall, stucco exterior walls, gabled roof, an open façade, framed by fluted columns and guarded by the Federation lions sitting on their pedestals, pressed metal interior walls with high ceilings and decorative moulded finish between wall and ceilings.  There are also four ornate, wood burning fireplaces in the building.

In 1968, Walgett Shire Council gave the Walgett Historical Society use of the Old Council Chambers and the first meeting held there was in February 1969.

Over the years various organisations have had use of a room or rooms at the building.  Some of those organisations are, Western Lands, Walgett Cottage Industries, a Credit Union, a dentist, the Walgett Show Office, a solicitor, Walgett Special One Grain Co-Op and Masseur.

Whilst some of the rooms were required by Council, the artefacts belonging to the Walgett Historical Society were stored in a building at the Walgett District Hospital.

The building is heritage listed and therefore kept within the style in which it was constructed.

A fence was erected around the entire site in 1985 to help with security and the roof of the building was replaced in 1986.