Leongatha History

We are back !!!

The Leongatha and District Historical Society is back in the newly renovated Leongatha Mechanics’ Institute.

The opening hours are from 12 noon to 4 pm on Thursdays and Fridays or by appointment.

Local history research material is available and the South Gippsland Genealogical Society has excellent family history resources available in our rooms

What’s on

• The current exhibition “Weddings are Timeless” was opened on Australia Day 2010 and will run until July. On display are magnificent wedding gowns and a range of wedding photographs dating from the 1880’s as well as items of wedding memorabilia.

One of the feature items is a beautiful heritage wedding bouquet made out of artificial flowers.

• The Pioneer Room is looking splendid with the collection of hand tools and items illustrating life in the pioneering days of our area

The program for the next four months

April

Wednesday April 14^th Committee Meeting

Wednesday April 21st   In honour of Anzac Day the meeting will be held at the Leongatha RSL Leongatha. Dinner will be at 6.30 and this will be followed by a talk on local service men and women. Let Pat Spinks know if you are attending the dinner. 56686365

May

Wednesday 12th     General Meeting

Saturday      22^nd The Society will pay a visit to “Tullaree” (Society members only)

June

Wednesday 9th General Meeting guest speaker to be arranged

July

Wednesday 14th     General Meeting

Saturday July 17^th The Shingler Memorial Dinner will be held with Speaker Cheryl Glowrey. Cheryl has a wonderful knowledge of Snake Island and its history 

August

Wednesday 11th        The Annual/General Meeting   featuring historic films

Subjects currently being researched by members

• The history of schools in the area. We want to make a timeline for all the schools that have existed in our area over time. These timelines with photographs will go on display in August. Help is need with the making of these timelines especially for those schools which have been closed.

• Lyn Skillern is writing the history of secondary education in Leongatha for the centenary in 2012. This history will include the history of Leongatha High, Technical School and Secondary College. Lyn is especially interested in the names of students from 1912 to 1933. These names are missing as the records were destroyed by fire. Ex students will be able to contribute to the book or the wed site. Watch this space!

• The story of the 2/22^nd Battalion and Lark Force is also being researched by Lyn Skillern. Seventeen local men went to Rabaul and only 4 returned home. Other areas had Yarram also had many losses. Lyn is keen to hear from relations of men and women from this force. See the email contact.

It was recently announced that the historic section of Leongatha Secondary College was placed on the Victorian State Heritage Register. The listing refers to the Sloyd Room, built in 1913 as a woodwork room, the 1934 building, which replaced a building constructed in 1912 and destroyed by fire in 1933, the Jubilee Park planted in 1937 to commemorate the school’s 25th anniversary and a famous oak tree planted in 1912. (more…)