Heritage society to close doors

AYLENE Kirkwood and Bev Hanson sit in the former Eaglehawk courthouse, where for the past 28 years they’ve been collecting, storing, and displaying artefacts and documents that tell the story of the Borough.

The pair helped form the Eaglehawk Heritage Society following the City of Greater Bendigo’s amalgamation in 1994, as they were worried the history of their hometown would be lost.

But dwindling active member numbers and a lack of people coming through the doors to pay and see their collections have meant the society has to close, and everything must go.

Ms Kirkwood, who is the acquisition officer, said the group had about 20 members in its early days, which has fallen to just five. Of those five, one of them is 80 years old and the health of all members is declining.

“I’m getting too old as well,” she said. “We don’t get any visitors anymore. We were open every Sunday of the month until COVID and then we were open the first and third Sunday of the month.

“We’re lucky to get any visitors anymore because most of the people are doing things online.

“We poured all this love into it. 28 years later it’s all going to go. It’s absolutely heartbreaking. But when you’ve only got five members, you just can’t do it.”

Ms Kirkwood and Ms Hanson, who is the group’s secretary and treasurer, are now tasked with returning everything to those who donated it.

Their work involves trawling through 5000 folders, books and binders, and finding addresses and phone numbers.

“We’re desperate for people to get into contact with us so I can find their stuff and give it back to them,” Ms Kirkwood said.

“If they’re happy to send me something in writing to say they don’t want it back, we can do with it whatever we want to, we’re happy to do this.”

The local RSL group has agreed to take war records, and Goldfields Library will take a filing cabinet’s worth of records.

The Bendigo Regional Archives Centre will also take some items; however, they only accept original documents.

But the society is more than items and records.

Ms Hanson said schools and Probus and Rotary clubs used to come for tours through the courthouse, log lockup and council chambers.

“We never charged for school tours, and we’d put a lot of effort into it,” she said. “There was no monetary gain from it, but you’re showcasing your region’s history.

“The kids learned a lot, they loved the log lockup and I’ve got lots of happy memories from over there. But you can’t keep going.”

The old council chambers now house Star Cinema’s wine bar, a controversial decision according to Ms Kirkwood.

The society’s swan song involves restoring former Borough of Eaglehawk councillor Michael Curtain’s illuminated address and having it hung in the chambers.

The project will cost $11,500 with fundraising underway.

If you have items or records stored by the Eaglehawk Heritage Society, contact 5446 9528 or email [email protected].