Grant for upcoming community museum

 THE Bendigo Historical Society’s History House is further on its way to becoming a community museum after securing State Government funding for the project. 

Almost $14,000 has been acquired through the Local History Grants Program and will be largely used to purchase secure cabinetry for historical artefacts. 

Member for Bendigo West, Maree Edwards, announced the funding at an event last Friday. 

“Having the ability to be able to display some of the collections that they have here at History House is really important, it’s also important because it is part of our history,” she said. 

“It is part of who we are as people who live in Bendigo, but also because we have so many visitors here in Bendigo who would love to see the history of our community and of our world.” 

Bendigo Historical Society president Euan McGillivray said it’s vital that infrastructure needs for the museum are up to scratch. 

He said the organisation estimates it’ll cost $30,000 more for specialist lighting and carpentry to hang items. 

“I’d love to think that there are 30 businesses in Bendigo who can chip in $1000 each,” he said. 

“We want to build this from the ground up, from the community up and get as many people involved as we can.” 

The society has between 30,000 and 40,000 unique items and due to the relatively small size of the space, it will only have select pieces on display at any one time.  

Mr McGillivray said the group expects to rotate items on show four times a year and the space could be used for contemporary events as well. 

“We want to be embedded in community activities,” he said. 

“We’ve got material in the collection to do with wine, so we want to assist when we can and bring people in with specialist interests.” 

City of Greater Bendigo mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said she was certain the organisation would receive the extra funding they need to bring the museum to life. 

“They’ve got a lot of energy, they’ve got a lot of get up and go, and they’re applying for grants and I’m sure that that’s going to happen,” said Cr Metcalf.