Kempsey’s long awaited Slim Dusty Centre, a tribute to the Australian country music pioneer, has at last opened it’s doors to the public.

Opened on October 17, ahead of it’s gala opening in November, the multi purpose facility includes a museum, exhibition and gallery space, visitors centre, retail shop, function centre and even an Aussie bush tucker cafe.

Announced in 2005, the centre has been made possible thanks to generous contributions by Australian Government, the NSW State Government, and Kempsey Shire Council, as well as the Slim Dusty Foundation and fan donations.

The Slim Dusty Centre museum features an extensive collection of images and objects from the Kirkpatrick family archives, as well as fan contributions from around the world.

Joy McKean, wife of the late Slim Dusty, says “Slim and I always looked forward to the opening of this Centre that would showcase not just our music and our life together on the roads of Australia, but would tell the story of Australian Country Music as a part of everyday life in this nation.”

“We believe that Slim’s legacy to his hometown is a beautiful Centre and Museum that will continue to benefit Kempsey and the Macleay Valley in the coming years as the exhibition grows to eventually accommodate the full collection of memorabilia.”

To coincide with the opening of the Slim Dusty Centre, EMI Music will release a new Slim Dusty album of unearthed recordings, ‘The Den Tapes’, on November 13.

The Museum is open daily from 10am-4pm, 7 days a week.

Visit slimdustycentre.com.au for more info.