As Bathurst concludes its 2015 bicentennial celebrations a local historian has reflected on the contribution made by Charles Sturt University (CSU) and previous higher education institutions."It is sometimes overlooked that Charles Sturt University and its predecessor institutions have been a beneficial presence in Bathurst for more than half of the city's 200 years," Dr Robin McLachlan (pictured), adjunct senior lecturer in history at the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences, said. "These institutions' contribution to education, research, employment and cultural life in regional Australia has been significant and is ongoing."Dr McLachlan noted that CSU has been very involved in various ways throughout 2015 to support the Bathurst Bicentenary, an event of both local and national significance. "This support has been as an official sponsor for some initiatives, as with From Flag Staff to Town Square – A Guide to the Government Settlement Heritage Trail, and the current Town Square Exhibition," Dr McLachlan said. "In other cases the involvement has been through the significant contributions by people such as adjunct Associate Professor David Goldney with the Cox's Road Dreaming project."Concluding the bicentenary, the University will host a regional biodiversity conference on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 November, and the Town Square Exhibition at the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum in Howick Street, Bathurst, seeks community members' input to help guide future development of the historic precinct. The Town Square Exhibition closes on Friday 30 November.