In 2017, the Canowindra Historical Society & Museum Inc will celebrate its 50th birthday. During Education Week in August 1967, Mae Vanderschaar’s Year 9 History Class at the Central School had a display in the old banking chambers of the then CBC manager’s residence in Suttor Street.
Such was the interest that a public meeting on 27 September 1967 resolved to form a Historical Society. Dual aims were to research and record the history of the district and to establish a museum. Firstly funds had to be raised and an affordable site chosen. Aided by a Captain Cook Bicentennial Grant, the first stage of the museum opened in 1970 when the old Murga School building was moved to a corner of Memorial Park by arrangement with Boree Shire Council. As the collection grew, the museum extended piecemeal on land rented and later bought from the railway.
As rail operations gradually closed, the vacant stationmaster’s house was acquired in 1988 and restored with help from local service clubs. The Historical Society is currently working with an architect on a master plan, the first stage of which should be ready for the Society’s 50th anniversary.
Contributed by Dorothy Balcomb, Historical Society Foundation President
