Yackandandah Museum

Welcome to the Yackandandah Museum blog.

The aim of the Yackandandah Museum is to provide a place where information, stories and objects concerning Yackandandah and district can be collected, conserved, researched, stored, displayed and shared.

On this blog you will you will find information and images relevant to our historic buildings, current and anticipated exhibitions, events, education programs, research opportunities, publications and sale items.

Details about our history, solar powered building, membership, friends, and volunteer activities for the Yackandandah Historical Society can also be found on this site.

We look forward to meeting you on your next visit.

Please sign our visitor’s book when you are here.

STONE BANK BUILDING

Built in 1860 this building operated as the Bank of Victoria until 1893 when the site was sold to the Haig family. Thomas Haig operated his tailoring business from the original banking chamber, retaining all the Australian red cedar fittings. Thomas’s daughter, Bella, sold the premises to the Yackandandah Historical Society in 1969.

In December 2006 a fire, which started in a neighbouring building, completely gutted the bank building. Little was retrieved from the rubble.

The donation box and the service counter have been built from the charred remnants of red cedar.

The stone building was restored and reopened as the Yackandandah Museum in November 2008.

TIMBER COTTAGE

This building originally fronted High Street and operated as a butcher’s shop before being used as an agency for the Bank of Victoria. It was moved to its present site to accommodate construction of the stone bank building. The cottage was in need of major repairs when purchased by the Yackandandah Historical Society in 1969. It reopened in 1981.

The Yackandandah Museum invites you to visit us and browse the exhibition spaces.

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS INCLUDE:

GOLD | photographic display of local puddling,  sluicing and barges

 A STITCH IN TIME -

A Stitch in Time’  is in place and will run well into 2013.  This features two major pieces from our collection -  a 1920’s signature cloth made as a fund-raiser for the Presbyterian Church in Yackandandah,  and a signature banner, made again as a fund-raiser, for the building of the Yackandandah Bush Nursing Hospital in 1929. Combined, there are about 400 local names.

A program for children involves making their own contribution to a new, Yackandandah Signature Cloth.

CORONATION CELEBRATIONS | artefacts + records of events related to local celebrations of King Edward VII’s coronation

When you have finished viewing the exhibitions you can wander through to the rear of the museum to visit the fully furnished 1850’s Bank of Victoria manager’s residence.

YACKANDANDAH BRASS BAND

Come to the museum and see our new exhibition on the Yackandandah Brass Band. Over time the band was also referred to as the Yackandandah Citizens Band and Yackandandah District Band. Some of the original instruments are on display as well as various other objects and information.

HATTERSLEY

Learn about Yackandandah’s own soft drink company in this fascinating exhibition. Find out about Johns’ journey from the Isle of Man via California to Yackandandah. There is a wealth of information and photos, and collectors will enjoy viewing the beautiful bottles on display and the soda water medals. The medals show prizes won in London, Paris and Melbourne for soda water made from the pure spring waters of Yackandandah.

Should you have any artefacts, photographs or publications that could be relevant to any future exhibitions please contact us.

Built in 1856 it is believed the cottage was originally located on the site of the Bank of Victoria building and moved to its present location when the stone building was erected. The cottage is much loved by the Yackandandah community and visitors alike. It is the single most commented on and enjoyed part of this museum with frequent comments on the joy of being able to be immersed in the lives of the previous occupants, or to feel emotionally involved with what has gone on before in the cottage or the era it represents. This building evokes memories and provides experiences outside our day-to-day existence. Some of our visitor comments this year include:

“The original cottage is beyond words.”

“What an amzing woman Isabella was!”

“What a wonderful time capsule! Thankyou for the trust of no ropes”

The exterior of the slab cottage has been covered with weatherboards and the shingle roof covered with corrugated iron in order to provide better protection. Some of the original roof shingles can be seen in the lean-to at the back of the cottage.  A central hallway leads to three bedrooms and a kitchen – all fitted and furnished as if the occupants were still in residence.

Miraculously, the fire of December 2006 did no more than minor damage to the cottage.

As you leave the cottage stroll back through the garden and enjoy the peaceful surrounds.

A stroll through the restful gardens surrounding the Bank of Victoria buildings will remind you of some of the hardy plantings of yesteryear. The ornamental grape draped archway; the mass plantings of agapanthus, lavender and geraniums; hedging of sweetly perfumed yellow jasmine; the indispensable lemon tree, and the prolific flowering may bush and crab apple.

Take a seat and stay a while.

At the Yackandandah Museum children can:

Play WHAT AM I & WHAT IS MY STORY? to locate images from the exhibitions and the museum surrounds;

write a record of their visit using a nib pen and ink from the lidded ink well;

explore the old bank safe to find the hidden keyholes;

join in a game of hopscotch;

or play the card matching game to discover more about the identities in the exhibition.

Activities change in response to changing exhibitions and new activities are available each school holidays.

Here are some of the comments recorded in our visitor’s book by children visiting the museum this year:

Lily: “I had fun”

Ethan: “It was the best!”

Svenja: “It was lots of fun to search for the pictures in the museum”

There is a wide variety of research material available through the Yackandandah Museum. All research is conducted by the Museum’s experienced researchers. There is no facility for public access.

Requests can be made completing the RESEARCH REQUEST FORM and sending it by post or email.

Any request should include as much detail as possible concerning what is already known regarding full name [including maiden name], dates of birth or death, place of residence, occupation etc.

See the RESEARCH REQUEST FORM above for further details on fees, copies of photographs and payment.

The Yackandandah Museum operates with a 1.5 kW Photovoltaic Solar System.

We are currently generating 7.4 kWh/day. This equates to approximately 4.9 kWh/day for a 1 kW system.

During 2011 the Museum generated a total of 2251 kWh, which averaged out at 6.8 kWh/day or 4.12 kWh/day for a 1 kW system. Refer to Solar North East website: www.solarenortheast.com.au for more information – go to Resources and Case Studies where you will find the Public Buildings case study on the Yackandandah Museum.

The Yackandandah Museum has a strong educative philosophy and aims to use the collection to educate the public and enable research.

Hands on activities are available in many areas of the museum and displays have additional material created to extend interest and support interaction.

Local walks and guided tours are available by arrangement.

Speakers can be made available for outside activities and objects from the collection may be utilised in conjunction with these events.

Group tours and special museum openings are available by request.