A set of floodlights that were broken for some time will be switched on again to highlight the restored courthouse exterior.

To mark the sesquicentenary, a special exhibition of National Textiles memorabilia has been brought in thanks to collector and museum chairman Alan Todd.

Mr Todd worked at National Textiles for 20 years between 1980 and 2000 and his memories will be shared in a slide show of factory pictures taken in the 1990s. 

The slide show will open the exhibition on Tuesday night. He has invited all former National Textiles employees to enjoy the exhibition and reminisce over the collection.

The exhibition includes stories from workers and a rare collection of photographs dating back to the time when the site was used as a munitions factory during World War II and when it was Rutherford Racecourse.

“The courthouse building was finished in 1862 but was not occupied until 1863 - so there are two chances to celebrate the anniversary,” Mr Todd said. “Volunteers have worked hard to make the museum into a thriving place over the past 40 years. The building was also previously used as a branch library.”

Restoration work will soon be under way in the building’s west wing. It will reopen next year, reconnected to the main building and east wing.”

Ramps will also be installed for wheelchair access.

The switching on of the courthouse floodlights (a gift to Morpeth for Australia’s bicentenary in 1988) will be held on Tuesday at 6pm, followed by the launch of the National Textiles exhibition.