The Paterson community built the shelter in the early 1940s and it remains untouched on a private Church Street property.

Paterson historian Dr Cameron Archer said the shelter was “primarily built for children at the school so if the area was attacked by air, the children could run to shelter”.

“The shelter was never actually used in the war but it remains a great artefact of the era. And children who went to school here during the war recall having to undertake practice runs into the shelter.”

Materials used to make the shelter include local railway sleepers and rocks.

“We’ve been very fortunate because all past owners of the property have understood the importance of the shelter and haven’t filled it in and we appreciate that,” Dr Archer said.

“The shelter also creates a great interest because it shows that the war did impact on this area.”

Other features of this year’s walk will include the opening of St Ann’s Presbyterian Church and a talk about the 1919 swine flu epidemic.

The walk will leave the Paterson Courthouse Museum at 1pm.