The council is negotiating with the Australian Rail Track Corporation to lease the station to house the gallery displaying local artists’ works, as well as providing room for workshops and competitions.

The Art Council’s Mark Ingram said the gallery would be a centre for the local art and craft scene, and in turn attract tourists.

“Tourists travel to Broken Hill and visit the exhibitions and art galleries, and stay longer,” Mr Ingram said.

“Dubbo has a great art gallery and exhibition centre while Bourke attracts tourists to their galleries.

“Back o’ Bourke’s exhibition centre will attract work from local artists for their opening early next year - but we have nothing in Cobar at the moment.

“The recent Outback Art exhibition for the Miners Ghost Festival attracted nearly 60 works in portrait,

landscape and photography.

“Without the annual weeklong exhibition, and there are a lot of talented artists here, you just don’t get to see their work,” he said.

Mr Ingram says he hopes the gallery will open next year.

“The Arts Council has drawn up a draft strategic plan and we hope to eventually invite artists from other areas and encourage local artists, but primarily we want to have a more community-based centre to benefit the town.”