Fifty years old and still going strong

Published on 17 April 2020

On 16 April 1970, the Kyneton Folk Museum opened its doors to the public. Fifty years later, the building now known as the Kyneton Museum is still going strong, sharing the secrets of the past.

Council is celebrating the museum milestone with a social media campaign that highlights the social history collection at Kyneton Museum. Facebook posts include historic photos and videos and feature some of the interesting objects which provide insights into the lives of people of the Victorian era and gold rush times.

Fifty years on, Kyneton Museum welcomes hundreds of visitors a year. School group visits are popular as museum visits are an important part of the curriculum for many schools. With many curated and travelling exhibitions presented each year, the museum is growing both in popularity and in the diversity of its programming.

With the museum currently closed due to coronavirus COVID-19 restrictions, birthday celebrations are restricted to online channels. The current celebrations aim to raise awareness of the importance of the museum’s collection and its relevance to both the shire and beyond.

Council’s Arts & Culture Facebook page features the original video recording of the official opening of the museum by then-Premier of Victoria, Sir Henry Bolte. Attended by a crowd of 300 people, the opening was said to be one of the most memorable and significant days in the town’s history!

Mayor, Cr Janet Pearce encouraged residents to join in the celebrations online and take a virtual peek at the museum collection.

“The photos and videos highlight the significant events and exhibitions held at the museum over the last 50 years and its importance to the community, and will also hopefully provide many people with special memories,” Cr Pearce said.

“We would also like to thank the volunteers and members of Friends of the Kyneton Museum group, which are an integral part of the museum, its stories and connection to community.”

To view the online celebrations, visit our Arts & Culture Facebook Page and share your memories of the museum by using the hashtags #KynetonMuseum and #InThisTogether