Tonight is our monthly meeting and we will be exploring some new territory for a historical society – our guest speaker will be Pat Clarke, a long-time resident and farmer of Tantaraboo and a keen photographer, who has combined his talents to compile an extraordinary collection of colourful bird photos in the natural surrounds of Kilmore, Tantaraboo, Willowmavin and Glenaroua. The meeting will be held at the Old Post Office, 2 Powlett Street, on Tuesday 2nd May, at 7:30 pm. As per usual, the meeting will be followed by supper and a chance to mingle.
Our Booksale on the second of March has been very well attended. The foyer of the Old Post Office is packed with customers and books are selling rapidly.
Our project on “Rekindling Father McHugh’s Kilmore” received a Commendation at the latest VCHA presentations. Our President, Brian Clancy, who did more than anyone else to ensure that the project went ahead, was there to receive the award.
The certificate states “This award recognises activities that enhance awareness of records of significance to local communities”.
These well known films were taken around Kilmore in the 1930’s by Father McHugh, a local Catholic priest who was interested in home film production.
They offer a unique insight into Kilmore life almost a century ago, in the years leading up to the Second World War.
They were digitised some time ago and have been stored on DVD to ensure their future preservation. A sound track incorporating commentary and contemporary music was added last year, thanks to our President Brian Clancy finding local sponsorship, and the completed work was shown at St Pat’s and widely appreciated.
These videos have been consolidated into a single film which is now available on YouTube.
The Kilmore Historical Society rooms will be closed on Tuesday November 7th for Melbourne Cup day. We will re-open the following Thursday and will return to the usual schedule of opening on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until the Christmas break.
Note also that our November guest speaker, Lynne Dore, will be presenting on the evening of Tuesday 14 November, the second Tuesday of the month.
Our guest speaker for November will be Lynne Dore, from the Wandong-Heathcote Junction History Group. She will be speaking on the Robinson family and the Wandong Brick Factory, which was an important and innovative industry in the region in its day.
Lynne has a long history of involvement in the local history scene. She has won awards for her involvement in various history projects. The industries that were established in Wandong in the nineteenth century are an interesting topic.
The meeting will be held at the Old Post Office, 2 Powlett Street, Kilmore, at 7:30 pm on Tuesday 14th November—note that this is the second Tuesday, to avoid clashing with Melbourne Cup Day. The meeting will be followed by supper and a chance to mingle.
An amendment to the previous post: the restoration works at the Kelly House were in fact carried out by Heritage Victoria, not Mitchell Shire Council as stated.
The Council has completed the restoration works to the Kelly House at Beveridge. It is not usually open to the public at this stage, but our member Liz Dillon-Hensby has organised a tour primarily for U3A and KHS members.
The plan is to meet at the Kelly House at 11am (or KHS rooms at the Old Post Office in Powlett Street at 10:30 for car pooling) and follow this with lunch at the Hunter’s Tryst in Beveridge at 12 noon. The visit is scheduled for 4 Dec 2023.
Please contact us either at kilmorehistoricalsociety@gmail.com or in person if you would be interested in seeing this legendary historical property.
Kilmore, Victoria, Australia. Victoria's oldest inland town
Kilmore Historical Society 