“The skulls attracted in excess of $8000, we do have to take some costs out of that but more than $6000 of that will go into the Laneway Project,” secretary of Lithgow Tidy Towns Kathleen Compton said.

Ms Compton said the majority of the skulls were auctioned for between $100 and $400.

“It was a bit less than last year, we had ones for $1000 and $800 last year. But the enthusiasm of the crowd was really wonderful.”

Ms Compton said the exhibition brought 800 people through Lithgow Library’s doors during the festival and that the diversity of the skulls’ buyers spoke to the project’s potential.

“Most of the skulls were purchased by people from the local government area, but some purchases out of town and if I look to the future of the project I think it’s a very positive opportunity for that whole project to be expanded.

“There’s certainly opportunity for increasing the scope of people visiting and bringing a lot of people into the town.”

“This year we provided a certificate of authenticity for the skulls, as proof it is an original artwork. We are trying to push up the expectation.”

The money raised will go towards future artworks and murals in Lithgow’s laneways.

“In the pipeline we have got Bob Sutor, who is currently working on a Rainbow Serpent for the Old Exchange wall. Lee Chanel Topaz is working with her group the Lithgow Creatives on another section of the Burns Lane wall. And we have 28 tiles to add to the gallery in Secret Lane.

“With this money we’ll start to plan our next project.”

Kathleen Compton expressed her thanks to Lithgow Library, Zig Zag Brewery, Lithgow City Council and Springvale Mine for donating the waste fines the skulls are made of.

“I’d also like to thank Graham Hodson for giving his expertise as the auctioneer and for providing his eftpos machine. And I have to personally thank Tim Johnman for his generosity in driving the project and all the people busy and working on the night. It’s really a project of community input.”