Collection

Copies of most local newspapers from 1910 – including the Sentinel Times, Powlett Express, The Criterion and other smaller community newspapers (many did not last long) are held at the museum. All these newspapers have been catalogued  – there are more than 10,000 records; The Powlett Express is digitized and all are searchable via the W&DHS Database.

W&DHS documents and manuscript archives contain information on many topics including mining and The State Coal Mine, unions, local industries, businesses, including agriculture, local government, schools, hospitals, sporting groups and clubs, regional towns and local personalities.

Photographs.  Close to 2,500 photos have been catalogued and digitized with more than that number to go!  Categories include tent town and early mining, businesses and the town’s shopping centre, railways, sports and clubs, arts and entertainment, farming, schools and churches, local towns and districts and personalities.

Maps, Local History publications and recorded histories – the society has a comprehensive library, a very extensive collection of tapes, CDs, oral history recordings and maps.

 Objects include: a bullock wagon, a petrol bowser as well as tools and small machinery of other local businesses , hospital and medical memorabilia, mining lamps and equipment, farming and railway equipment, many collections of trophies and minute books from now defunct clubs and societies – the list goes on!

Some of the archive material is displayed, most is accessible to the public.  Catalogued items are searchable using the Database or electronic records.