History centre celebrates new era

QUEENSCLIFF Historical Museum is debuting its brand-new home with an exhibition exploring the town’s early history.

The museum moved into the new Queenscliff Hub at Hesse Street last week as it unveiled its Queenscliffe Revealed: Hidden Histories – New Narratives show kicking off on September 27.

Volunteers have developed the exhibition and finished a fitout of the new museum space, which includes specialist lighting and display cabinets, in the lead-up to the showcase.

QHM president Steve Lee said the group had sensed the excitement from the Queenscliff community at the opening of the new community centre.

“The response since we’ve opened the doors has been amazing,” Mr Lee said.

“We’ve had up to 200 people through each day. People obviously want to have a look and are curious about the new Hub and its facilities, but also the museum.

“It’s been a mighty effort from QHM volunteers; they did all of the packing of the museum and a lot of the reloacation to storage as well.

“All of the installation has been done with assistance form Neighbourhood House Men’s Shed, who have done some wok making things and installing items.

“It’s been a real community effort.”

QHM said it had enjoyed positive feedback for stories across its three themes: origins and environment, creating community and the Queen of watering places.

Popular stories have included the Geelong to Queenscliff scooter race that attracted tourists back to the town in 1936 following the Great Depression.

The exhibit also detials the visit of a team of Aboriginal cricketers in 1867 for a social game – before the team was smuggled out via boat en route to England for the first-ever international cricket tour of the sport’s homeland, and the first matches of any kind on international soil from an Australian sporting team.

A Welcome to Waduwurrung film, featuring the region’s landscapes and its transformation, stories of Queesncliff’s industrial fishermen and the grand buildings of the town are also features in the exhibit.

The new $5.75 million Queenscliff Hub also houses the town’s visitor information centre and library, with the multi-use community centre now open to the public.