Last man standing
Thirty-five years ago, Peter Bisset joined the staff of Hay Lands Office as a Lands Officer, with a commencing salary of $18,492 per annum. He was one of 13 employed in the iconic old building in Lachlan Street.
On December 20 this year, Peter is likely to be the last one from the Hay Lands Office to shut the door behind him. The Department says at least three other NSW Government staff will continue to occupy the building. Image: The Riverine Grazier/Tertia Butcher.
By Tertia Butcher
It is the end of an era for what is perhaps Hay’s most iconic building – the Lands Office.
Natural Resource Management (NRM) Project Officer with the Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure – Crown Lands, Peter Bisset is the last man standing of what is still referred to as the Lands Office, despite many departmental name changes over the years.
Peter starts extended leave on December 20 and plans to retire in February 2026, ending a 139-year history of the Lands Office in Hay, and 128 years of occupancy of the building.
Archivists were in Hay last Wednesday to transport the last of the records to the Department’s office in Orange, with significant historical records going to the State Archives.
“There is a lot of history of the area being loaded,” Mr Bisset said on Wednesday.
“The Department will retain my position, but not necessarily in Hay.
“When I started here 35 years ago, we had a staff of 13 and at one stage 20 people were employed here.
“A lot of community involvement came out of the building.”
For more than a century the Lands Office remained a focal point in the community, with staff providing more than a formal ‘public service’ type of activity.
They took an active and often leading role in many events, particularly during Senior Citizens Week.
Many decisions affecting the Hay Show, sporting clubs and services groups were made within the walls of the building.
Hay Shire Council General Manager, David Webb said Council believes the NSW Government would retain the building for future services.
Hay Lands Office has served the Hay district since January 1885, with the first office established in the former butter factory. The building in Lachlan Street was designed by architect W Vernon and erected in 1896.
Following the passing of the Crown Lands Act of 1884, the Department of Lands was largely decentralised by the establishment of Land Board Offices in 14 centres, including Hay.
The District Surveyor was in charge and the team of surveyors, land inspectors, draftsmen and clerks.
In later years, the District Manager, Mick Beckwith was based in Hay, joining the Department in 1954 and was still there for the 100-year reunion of the building in October, 1996.