Dubbo is marking a major milestone on Saturday, September 12, 2026, with the community celebrating 60 years since the town was officially proclaimed a city.

The anniversary recognises the formal proclamation that took place in 1966 and the transformation of Dubbo into one of the major service centres for communities across western New South Wales.

A free community celebration is being held at the Church Street Rotunda from 10am on Saturday. The event includes live music from the Dubbo District Concert Band and a special anniversary cake, giving residents an opportunity to come together and recognise the city's history and development.

Dubbo Regional Council has highlighted the anniversary as an opportunity not only to look back at the past six decades but also to recognise the much longer history of the region. The area has a history extending tens of thousands of years and carries significant cultural importance for Aboriginal communities.

Since gaining city status in 1966, Dubbo has developed into a major regional centre serving a large part of western New South Wales. The city provides important health, education, retail, transport and government services to residents of Dubbo and surrounding regional communities.

The 60th anniversary provides an opportunity for residents to reflect on how significantly Dubbo has changed since the proclamation. Population growth, expanding services, new infrastructure and the development of tourism and regional industries have all contributed to the city's role as a central hub for the wider Orana region.

Dubbo's position along major transport routes has also helped strengthen its importance as a regional centre. The city connects communities across central and western NSW and supports agriculture, business, education, healthcare and tourism.

The anniversary celebrations are designed to be accessible to the wider community, with the morning event offering music and refreshments in a central public location. Community celebrations such as this also provide an opportunity for long-term residents to share memories and for newer residents to learn more about the city's development.

The milestone comes as Dubbo continues to play an important role in regional NSW. Its services extend well beyond the city itself, supporting people from surrounding towns and rural areas who rely on Dubbo for specialist healthcare, education, shopping, employment and government services.

While September 12 marks the 60th anniversary of Dubbo's city proclamation, the celebration also recognises the broader story of the region and its communities.

For residents, the anniversary is both a celebration of Dubbo's past and an opportunity to consider its future. The city has grown substantially since 1966 and remains an important regional centre in New South Wales.

The 60th-anniversary event at Church Street Rotunda provides a chance for the community to come together, celebrate the milestone and recognise the people and developments that have helped shape Dubbo over the past six decades.