The 110-year-old grandstand at Forbes race course is in for $100,000 of repairs, while a lift will be installed at the Forbes and District Historical Society Museum.

The Honourable Rick Colless, parliamentary secretary for Western NSW, announced the funds as part of the “Heritage Near Me” program.

“There are a lot of old buildings around the state that are not used for the purpose they were built, but still have great benefit to the community if they are looked after,” he said.

At Forbes race course, the historic grandstand has been roped off for more than two years. With the funding the floors, columns, balustrades and more will be fixed so racegoers can watch the action from the prime position once again.

The funding proposal included scope for a gallery to help highlight the historical value of the building and local racing.

At the Cross Street museum, museum and historical society president Bruce Adams said the upstairs rooms of the historic building were sitting unused while the collection downstairs desperately needed more space.

The museum has many exhibits – once common household items donated by local community members – that now need photos and stories explaining how they were used.

The lift will open up the top half of the building, allowing the collections to be properly displayed.