By Natasha Fujimoto
THERE is perhaps nothing quite so fascinating as peeling back the dust cover of time to reveal the hidden gems of history, offering up as it does mere snippets of lives once lived but still indelibly linked to our own.
Preserving the past to inform the future is the motto imbued within all the careful preservation, archiving and curating work done at the Shepparton Heritage Centre (SHC) and after months of overhaul and preparation, the historical hub is thrilled to present its grand opening on Saturday, August 12 at 2pm.
Inviting one and all to attend, the afternoon will be jammed packed with new, captivating exhibitions, talks and displays promising to shine a light on Shepparton’s historical past.
Presenting a talk on ‘Shepparton’s Early History Buried Under Monash Park’, Mr John Dainton OA will deliver an absorbing history about the early development of the township along the river, revealing surprising facts about the early settlement.
With a history dating back to the 1920s, there will also be an extensive range of Scouts memorabilia on show as well as an art and poetry exhibition dedicated to the ‘Facebook of her day’ columnist, humourist and artist, Mollie Hall, who entertained the good folk of Shepparton with her wit and gossip during the 1930s and 40s.
Utilising shelving from the original G J Coles in Fryers Street c. 1938, the new Research History Hub comprising the Shepparton News Archives, Greater Shepparton Archives and Extended Research Library will also open on the day and in the adjacent 1965 Scout Hall, ready for the inquiring public to peruse.
After great time and effort, SHC treasurer Kristy Rudd, is thrilled to be showcasing not only a range of new, captivating exhibitions at the centre but is proud to announce an extension to its history hub resources, complementing the combined work of volunteers and the Family History Group.
