After a relatively lengthy, and somewhat costly, exercise to dismantle the organ, which previously resided in Mr Coles’ home, and rebuild it at Town Hall, the organ is now in place and has already featured at a couple of community events.

The original builders of the organ, Ian and Jennifer Brown, were able to come to Forbes to rebuild the instrument at Town Hall, which was no small feat.

The process of dismantling and rebuilding the organ took about a week to complete.

Forbes Shire Council’s director of tourism, community and cultural development, Richard Morgan is thrilled with the acquisition, being a classical music enthusiast who also, coincidently, plays the pipe organ.

He was present throughout the process of moving the organ and said it was lucky the original builders were still able to come and rebuild it, as it’s a very technical process.

“It’s an art as well as a science,” he said.

“It was just fortunate that the Browns were still in the business of organ building.”

Mr Coles commissioned the pipe organ in 1981, when he was taking lessons in Orange and was unhappy of the sound of the electronic organ he was playing. 

The pipe organ was originally kept upstairs from his business in the then Forbes Arcade (now Mezzanine Style) where it was played by Mr Coles and visiting organists.

The pipe organ was moved to his home when he moved out of the business in 1999.

Mr Coles is now happy for the pipe organ to change hands and knows council will take good care of it.

“It’s going to be in a safe place here,” he said.

“It’s got a lot of potential and I’m pleased to see it preserved, that’s the main thing.”

Forbes mayor Ron Penny is very grateful for Mr Coles’ generous donation and says the organ will be a great asset to Town Hall for many years to come.

“What we’ve done today in preserving this organ is that it will be here in 100 years or longer,” he said.

“This is preserving something for the future of Forbes and it’s great for the present too.”

Pipe organs can have a lifespan of up to 500 or 600 years.

This particular organ is a chamber organ, although slightly larger than a standard chamber organ, built in the baroque tradition.

“This pipe organ has been built in the traditional manner, that is it is all mechanical rather than electronic, so it will last 100 years with very little maintenance other than tuning,” Mr Morgan said.

Ian and Jennifer Brown will return to Forbes every six months to tune the instrument and will be back on June 12 as part of their tuning trip all around NSW.