The Gunnedah Rural Museum will be able to provide a better facility for the community, with its funding of $182,500.

The money will be used to build four sheds to house restored tractors and cars, old bottling equipment from the cordial factory that was donated by the Cushan family, a collection of Arnotts biscuit tins, vintage trucks and an operative blacksmithing shop, as well as fencing to surround the expanded site.

“We’ve had these plans for a while, so we knew what we wanted, but we just couldn’t get anywhere,” museum grants officer Pat Gaynor said.

He said the new sheds would allow the museum to properly protect and care for its collection, while providing a more enjoyable experience for visitors.

The volunteer-run attraction received grants in the past and got regular funding from Gunnedah Shire Council, but Mr Gaynor said there was not enough money to allow the museum to expand.

The Tamworth Marsupial Park Adventure Playground Committee was given $100,000 in the budget.

President Charles Impey said the funding would bring construction of the $240,000 playground significantly forward.

The project could start to become a reality in as little as six months, he said.

A meeting with Tamworth Regional Council last Friday was expected to establish a timeline for the project.