MOREE and District Historical Society celebrated Moree Plains Museum’s first birthday on Easter Saturday, with locals and visitors spending a glorious autumn morning strolling through the historic facility’s fascinating exhibits and picturesque grounds.

The historic Lands Office building on Frome Street was gifted to the society in 2019 when Moree Plains Shire Council acquired the building from the NSW State Government.

During the next five years, a small band of dedicated volunteers established Moree Plains Museum and officially opened the facility on April 20 last year.

First birthday celebrations on Saturday included a trash ‘n’ treasure fundraising stall and Easter raffle.

Society president Neville Campbell said a lot has happened at the museum in the past 12 months.

“We received a large donation from Young Aggies in Moree, which we used to upgrade several of our computers and to also purchase a large display cabinet for our collection of antique wedding dresses,” Mr Campbell said.

“We’ve also added the Kirkby Collection and the Hardman Collection during the past 12 months.

“The Hardman Collection is a very eclectic display of various pieces from Ron and Edna Hardman, donated by their son, Garry, who also provided the special cabinet displaying the pieces.”

The Kirkby Collection comes from one of Moree’s best-known pioneering families.

Fred and Charlotte Kirkby, with their two young sons, Ernest and Alfred, move to the Moree area in 1861 from the Hunter Valley. They settled at Whalan Station, and later Welbon Station.

In 1867, the family, now numbering six children with the addition of Frederick, Fanny and twins Georgina and Maud, moved to Moree.

They established the Criterion Hotel on Balo Street, as well as a butcher shop next door.

Tragedy struck the family in February, 1875 when daughters, 10-year-old Fanny and eight-year-old Maud, drowned in the Mehi River near where the Dr Geoffrey Hunter Bridge now spans the waterway.

“We have a porcelain doll that belonged to one of the little Kirkby girls who drowned in the Mehi River all those years ago. The doll is 160 years old,” Mr Campbell said.

Planned exhibitions this year include a photographic essay of Moree’s watercourse river system.

“We’re in the process of putting together a big, photographic exhibition of the watercourse,” Mr Campbell said.

“We’re hoping to have that opened in June, and on display for several months.”

Images of The Rafts area and Gwydir Wetlands in watercourse country west of Moree will feature in the exhibition.

The Gwydir Wetlands area, managed by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, is a designated State conservation area and recognised internationally for its diverse birdlife – including threatened and endangered species – and ecological significance.

“The Rafts are now 30 kilometres long, apparently,” Mr Campbell said.

Mr Campbell said Moree and District Historical Society has made significant headway during the past 12 months.

“Everything is going well after one year,” he said.

“We could certainly use more volunteers, that’s for sure.

“Unfortunately three of our volunteers, Fred Pritchard, George Boland and Lew Macey passed away and we’ve also had a few volunteers move away from Moree, so we’re down on numbers,” he said.

“The volunteers we have are very dedicated, and we’d love to have some more.

“We’re also putting together a Friends of the Museum-type membership. People who can’t necessarily come along to a working bee or monthly meeting can join as an associate member and get extra benefits like free entry to the museum,” Mr Campbell said.

Moree community members interested in local history can join Moree Plains Museum’s volunteer group by calling society secretary, Jenny Pritchard, on 0407 522841.

“Jenny is the person to talk to about joining us,” Mr Campbell said.

Prizes in the Easter raffle were won by Stevie Hall, Juliana and Wendy Woods. A society member will contact all winners in the coming days.

Moree & District Historical Society and Moree Plains Museum

Where: 40 Frome Street (old Lands Office)

Open: Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays

Time: 9.30am to 12.30pm

Website: https://moreehistory.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/945962732496942