Geelong Heritage Centre welcomes 100,000th visitor

THE Geelong Heritage Centre has marked its 100,000th visitor since opening in its new location in central Geelong two years ago.

Since moving “under the dome” as part of the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre, visitation has greatly exceeded forecasts with tens of thousands of people visiting the reading room and enjoying the combination of staff, digital technology and historical records that combine to bring the past alive.

The Geelong Heritage Centre holds valuable resources to assist visitors with their interests and research including genealogy records, local history records, reference works, newspapers, maps, plans, paintings and photographs, much of which has been digitized or microfilmed for convenient access.

The 100,000-vistor milestone came up during a visit from pupils from St Mary’s Primary School on Wednesday morning.

To celebrate the occasion, the Heritage Centre presented the pupils and their teachers with a selection of 10 significant Australian history books suitable for primary school-aged readers.

Geelong Regional Library Corporation chair Cr Margot Smith, said it was fitting that school students would be the visitors to achieve the significant milestone.

“Visitation to the Heritage Centre by primary and secondary school students has increased significantly since the Heritage Centre relocated to its new premises in the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre.

“This is in large part due to the terrific interactive digital offer that the students enjoy using.

“This new digital technology combined with the improved opportunities for exhibiting treasures, has helped to bring the past to life for young people and adults alike.”

“We are very pleased that the children and teachers from St Mary’s Primary School are able to participate in this celebration of what is a very significant milestone for the Heritage Centre.”