In 2024 the 200th anniversary of the Bathurst Wars between the Wiradjuri people and settlers will be marked.
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For the Belubula Headwaters Protection Group's Aboriginal Heritage Advisor Lisa Paton, the area surrounding and including the proposed McPhillamy's Gold Mine project is central to those events.
"This location is as equally significant to the European and settler history of the region and is seen by the local Aboriginal community members and historians as a site of national significance," she said.
From ochre sites through to rare artefacts the Kings Plains area is one of considerable conflict between the two cultures and Ms Paton says that not only is the mining project an insult to injury for aboriginal culture, the site is as significant as Gallipoli and the Battle of the Somme for non-Aboriginals.
"The mine will destroy locations of significance to the historical events of European settlement of Australia particularly early conflict between Aboriginal people, soldiers and settlers," she said.
President of the NSW History Council Steven Gapps, who is currently writing a book on the Bathurst Wars, said that the Kings Plain region played a major role in the the struggle.
"It was at Kings Plains where a declaration of war was made by Wiradjuri against the British," he said.
"This is where the words 'murra gerund (tumble down) white fella' were first said to stockworkers".
Not only does the site have significance for aboriginal people, Ms Paton says that the area played an important role in the development of the nation.
"Kings Plains was the first place where Martial Law was used in Australia," she said.
"From a political history point of view the Bathurst War led to the development and use of those policies and it happened right where they want to build this mine."
Ms Paton said that knowledge of what happened during those conflicts is really only in its infancy and a more thorough survey of the area is needed.
"The gold's not going anywhere, so what's the rush?"
A thorough survey of the site and surrounding areas is an opportunity for Regis Resources to contribute to the story said Ms Paton.
"Regis have a great opportunity to capture Aboriginal and settler history for all Australians and make a huge contribution to our knowledge base," she said.
Manager of Special Projects for Regis Resources Tony McPaul said that Regis acknowledges that parts of the project area, and the broader regional area within which the project is located, have Aboriginal cultural significance.
"The approach and methodology for Aboriginal cultural heritage surveys is dictated by the various NSW guidelines and regulations and the McPhillamys assessments were undertaken by qualified, experienced archaeologists and representatives of the Aboriginal community," he said.
"Heritage NSW has advised that the assessments complied with the Aboriginal consultation requirements and has raised no concerns regarding the adequacy of the assessment.
"We will continue to work with local indigenous representatives and heritage experts to ensure indigenous cultural issues are dealt with appropriately and respectfully."
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