A message from our President
Dear Mansfield Community
Building the Mansfield Heritage Museum has commenced and is being supervised by the Shire of Mansfield. A local building company (Hennessey’s) will construct the building which was designed by Taylor Consulting Engineers also located in Mansfield.
However, as construction commences, we must now reach out to the community seeking support for our appeal for a further $600,000 to professionally develop interpretative and educational facilities, and install the exhibits once the new building is completed.
We plan that the exhibits will use the latest techniques to tell the story of Mansfield's proud history and culture including a significant display of local fish fossils going back to the start of time and the Taungurung first people’s story. The more recent history and pioneering feats connected to High Country grazing, timber, gold and tourism which built our district will also be featured. To this end we have had assistance and are taking advice from Museum Victoria.
When completed, the Museum will attract visitors to the town and encourage them to stay longer therefore increasing business opportunities. Importantly, it will educate our children about the long and proud history of Mansfield, including its first people.
With community support we are confident we can achieve our aims with this exciting project which is our one chance to preserve and enrich our historical and cultural heritage for future generations. It will be a long-term investment for the Mansfield district.
You will be aware that sadly Governments (both State and Federal) are short of money and therefore grants are unlikely. The only way to get the Museum finished to a high standard is for the Society to ask for local community support. I hope you don’t mind this approach on behalf of a very important local project which will both assist to preserve local history and boost economic growth through tourism. I invite you to have a look at the video on the QR code below using your mobile phone.
We hope you may see your way clear to become significantly involved in this major appeal and by doing so, be part of ensuring the long-term success and viability of the important project. Details on how to donate and options are on the attached form.
We are hoping some families may consider a bequest to the Museum in their wills.
I would be very glad to call around to discuss the project and various options if you would like to get involved.
Yours sincerely
Graeme Stoney AM
President - Mansfield Historical Society
CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION - THE NEW HOME OF THE MANSFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Mansfield Historical Society’s Fundraising Appeal
All Donations are tax deductible
Community Appeal for world class exhibit design and build for the Mansfield Heritage Museum
PLATINUM - Donors of $100,000 or more. Platinum Patron status, with a customised package to be discussed with the donor. Higher amounts than 100K attract special acknowledgement (to be discussed) and names displayed.
DIAMOND - Donors of $50,000 - $99,999. Diamond Patron status, with customised package (to be discussed) with donors and names displayed.
GOLD- Donors of $25,000 - $44,999. Gold Patron status, with opportunities to include naming organisation/company logo on exhibits, (to be discussed).
SILVER - Donors of $10,000 - $24,999 can have the option of sponsoring an exhibit for a period of time and their name displayed.
BRONZE Donors of $1000 - $9,999. To be included on a digital display donor board.
Donations of under $1000 will be recognised in an electronic
donors book (with no amount shown).
● Direct deposit: Mansfield Historical Society, BSB 633-000, A/C 211 441 605
(please provide your name as reference and for receipt purposes)
● Cheques payable to: Mansfield Historical Society, PO Box 309 Mansfield VIC 3724
● Via 'Chuffed QR Code' : For donations $200 or under
Chuffed is a crowdfunding platform for socially-conscious projects. Especially not-for-profits, social enterprises and community groups.
Click here or scan this QR code to donate via Chuffed.
For more information contact:
Graeme Stoney AM - President graeme@stoney.com.au 0428 576 090
Jenny Delaforce - Vice President jennydelaforce@gmail.com 0438 577 528
Ann Ware - Curator abware1@bigpond.com 0448 007 645
Colyn Ranken -Appeal Director colyn.ranken@gmail.com 0419 150 535
About the Mansfield Historical Society
The Historical Society houses a vast collection of photos, clothing, stories and equipment from a bygone era, that has been donated and bequeathed from Mansfield families and individuals. They are also the custodians of over 1200 family files which include photographs which currently are in the process of being digitised. “We have family members who come in to discover pictures of their relatives that they’ve never seen before,” said curator – Ann Ware.
The Mansfield Historical Society volunteers work tirelessly to capture, research and record our history. One of the current research projects includes the provenance of a buggy believed to be connected to the Widow of Wappan, Anne Bon (1838-1936) – pastoralist, philanthropist and advocate for Aboriginal people.
Currently this collection of Mansfield’s history is housed in numerous storage facilities scattered around the district, out of sight. Recently a significantly important local collection was lost due to lack of storage and now these historical and valuable artifacts of yesteryear will be scattered across the countryside and lost forever instead of remaining intact in Mansfield as part of our unique heritage.
MHS has been building a case for many years for the funding of a new Mansfield Heritage Museum (MHM) which will form a key part of the new Mansfield Shire Precinct Project and the new home of the Historical Society
In 2022 funding of approximately $1.5M was obtained with the help of Mansfield Shire Council and the local community to enable MHS to build the new MHM (building shell to lockup) which is currently under construction.
MHS needs to raise a further $600K – $1M to fund the design of world class exhibits.
Our district has a rich history in farming, timber and gold, with wonderful stories of prominent families, successes and losses, crime, murder, war and mayhem just waiting to be discovered.