Money to support Torquay archives project

THE Torquay and District Historical Society is one of the organisations set to share in grant funding from the state government for community projects that preserve and share Victoria’s history for generations to come.

Last week, Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings announced that 53 community groups will share in $345,000 worth of local history grants.

This year’s winning recipients included the Torquay and District Historical Society, which will get $1,526.70 for its History Archives Library project.

Other recipients include the Abbotsford Convent for the development of an historical book, the Brighton Historical Society to catalogue and photograph their costume collection, and the Ballarat Tramway Museum for an interpretation of their heritage trams and their role in the local community.

The funding is part of the annual Local History Grants Program which provides small grants to community organisations to support projects that preserve, record or publish Victorian local history.

Victoria’s diverse history is a real drawcard for visitors, with a total of 6.4 million people visiting a museum, gallery, heritage site or monument on their trip in the year ending March 2017.

Over the past five years, this has been growing at 5.7 per cent a year.

Mr Jennings congratulated the successful community groups and their projects.

“This funding will go a long way in bringing their projects to life,” he said.

“Their work in capturing the memory of unique aspects of our state ensures that future generations can appreciate and understand Victoria’s varied and diverse history for many years to come.”

The Local History Grants Program is administered by the Public Record Office Victoria.

Head to the website for more information: prov.vic.gov.au/community/grants-and-awards.