Bangalow’s Heritage House – a new place to discover family history

Published on 25 July 2019

Researching family histories is popular in Australia and new technology at Bangalow’s Heritage House is making it easier for local people to discover their past. 

The new Family History room was officially opened today (25 July) and the doors are open for people to make the most of the new resources.

The Family History room is part of a project funded by a $320,000 grant from the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund (SCCF) called Connecting Families Past and Present at Heritage House.

The grant has provided for an extension to Heritage House for the creation of a new ‘hub’ for the exploration of family history which includes a new display and reading room as well as digital upgrades to allow local residents to access family history records held by the NSW Government.

Trish Bleakley, President of the Bangalow Historical Society, said there is now a new social area for family history buffs to meet, talk and share their research.

“Bangalow is a close-knit community and while some families know a lot about their roots in this area, many others have moved here from other places and this new Family History room is a fabulous way to learn more about ourselves and each other,” Ms Bleakley said.

“To be able to get digital access to collections from the NSW Government including State Library, NSW Land and Property and State Records is a great resource for our little town and the Historical Society is thrilled to be able to provide this courtesy of the Stronger Country Communities Fund grant.

“People can now come to Heritage House, enjoy the displays, use the family history resources, make some new friends and have a beautiful cup of tea and something to eat,” Ms Bleakley said.

Byron Shire Mayor, Simon Richardson, said the extension to Heritage House was more than just providing resources for family history enthusiasts.

“This is designed to be a meeting place for people in our community; a place where people can go to catch up with friends and meet others with similar interests.

“It’s about creating social connections and friendships and getting people, especially older residents, out of their houses where they can become isolated.

“It’s about enhancing our community and that’s what makes this an innovative and terrific project,” Mayor Richardson said.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro congratulated the Byron Shire Council for delivering a successful initiative for locals and history buffs alike through the Stronger Country Communities Fund.

“The new Family History room in Bangalow’s Heritage House is an exciting project which will not only shine a light on families’ ancestors but will also enable people to discover and connect with relatives alive today,” Mr Barilaro said.

“This is such a fantastic use of the latest technology and official NSW Government archives, to encourage people to forge ties within the Byron Shire community and beyond.”

Heritage House is open Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 3pm. 

For more information go to https://www.facebook.com/Bangalowheritagehouse/

Or contact Council's Media & Communications team on 6626 7243.