Towns With Heart is now calling for tenders from experienced sculptors to complete the statue, after the project committee reached its $100,000 fundraising goal.

The project began with a petition in July 2015, when Kurri Kurri locals Col Andrews and Tom Outram felt it was time the pit horses received public recognition for their hard work in the mines of the South Maitland Coalfields.

Towns With Heart got behind the project, and the committee eventually decided on Rotary Park as its preferred location for the statue (which will be installed in the vicinity of the existing mining history monuments in the park).

Everything from sausage sizzles, car boot sales and country music concerts to corporate donations have helped the small but hard-working committee of volunteers crack the six-figure fundraising mark.

Mr Andrews said he’s “on cloud nine” that the project has progressed to this stage.

“Everything we’ve done has been a success – it’s a good feeling,” he said.

The bronze statue will be based on a picture of the legendary pit horse Miner, who many locals may remember from the Aberdare Extended mine.

Miner won the 1952 Pit Horse Derby, among other achievements at the Cessnock Agricultural Show.

He was saved from drowning in the pit in June 1949, when 23 pit horses lost their lives.

The statue will measure about six metres in length, including the horse and skip.

Any artists interested in submitting an application for the statue can contact the Kurri Kurri Visitor Information Centre on 4936 1909.

August 7, 2017: Pit horse statue campaign trots along

February 12, 2017: The legend of the pit horse must live on

October 25, 2016: A piece of pit horse history uncovered

December 15, 2015: Horse statue idea coming to life

July 14, 2015: Petition for pit pony statue in Kurri