Community Action for Windsor Bridge (CAWB) has made a $3,350 donation to The Friends of the Australiana Pioneer Village for restoration work at the historic Pioneer Village in Wilberforce.
Village president Kevin Weeks said the funds would be put towards preserving the site's heritage-listed buildings, in particular the Oxborough Inn.
"The major project we're looking at is underpinning of the Oxborough Inn, which is a heritage building and is one of our restaurants," Mr Weeks said.
"The foundation has sunk so we need to pack it and get it back up again."
The village has a main street full of original buildings moved from historic sites around the Hawkesbury region.
The entire site is heritage-listed and is a not-for-profit organisation.
Mr Weeks said because the park has a gate price ($5 for adults for $3 for children), it was often difficult to come by government funding.
A new State Government funding system called My Community Project recently asked community members to vote for the project they thought deserved funding in their area, and of four organisations on the Pioneer Village site that applied for funds, only one, the Wilberforce Men's Shed, was successful, receiving $81,000 to build a new shed.
The Village applied for but missed out on funding to build a maze and children's play area, to restore historic Rose Cottage, and to upgrade the learning cottage in the Permaculture Garden.
"I think, because we are a not-for-profit organisation but we're not like some other organisations doing straight out community work, because we have a gate fee, grants are sometimes not coming our way," Mr Weeks said.
We absolutely appreciate the donation and what CAWB have done in Windsor.
- Pioneer Village president Kevin Weeks
"There's only so much money available and there's always competition for funds so it goes to whoever the community supports as having the greater need.
"We absolutely appreciate the donation and what CAWB have done in Windsor."
CAWB president Harry Terry said the funds were given by an anonymous donor to his organisation to put towards heritage works: "We thought it was most appropriate for the Pioneer Village to receive the funds, as they align with what we're fighting for - the protection and preservation of heritage."
