The Bendigo Historical Society has a collection that is of historic significance to the region. It represents the unique story of Bendigo, whose gold-mining history had a widespread effect on the State and the Nation.
Our Collection
It is vital that the work already commenced on the cataloguing and preservation of the collection be continued and supported by the community, who will gain many benefits in return.
Important decisions regarding the future of the collection will need to be made for its long-term preservation and management, in the best interests of the community.
Bendigo is a major regional centre with the potential to become a ‘hub’ for the region’s cultural heritage where Australians and overseas visitors can come to learn about, experience and enjoy the exceptional stories Bendigo has to tell.
Resources
The collection includes more than 30,000 items:
- An important photographic and document record of the city in terms of culture, business, and social development since 1851
- Books, journals and ledgers dating from 1860
- A small collection of newspapers dating from 1860
- Over 15.000 individual documents and paper-based ephemera
- A photographic collection of over 2000 items with the majority pre-1960
- Negatives and glass plates
- Maps and architectural plans dating from 1870
- Artworks
- A collection of textiles and objects including some dating from 1870
- Items of clothing dating from the 1850s
Donations to the BHS Collection
When accepting donations the Bendigo Historical Society will only accept donations of items that comply with the Current Collection Policy (April 21, 2021).
Acquisition of items for the BHS Collection.
Please send details of offers of items (with photograph if possible) to our postal address or email
- Email: secretary@bendigohistory.com
Acquisition of items for the BHS Collection
- Items for the Bendigo Historical Society collection are acquired primarily through donation, though occasionally items may be acquired through purchase, transfer or bequest.
- Acceptance of an item for accession into the Society’s collection shall be at the discretion of the Society’s Committee of Management.
- In considering an item for acquisition the Committee shall assess the item’s conformity with the collection criteria.
- The Committee of Management must approve all donations and purchases.
- The Society must be free to display, treat and where necessary deaccession collection material.
- The Society will not accept conditional donations or bequests.
- The Bendigo Historical Society will not accept permanent loans or long-term loans.
- Short term loans of up to 12 months for the purpose of exhibition, research or interpretation will be allowed on a case by case basis.
Unsolicited items left with the Bendigo Historical Society without contact details will be treated as abandoned goods and dealt with accordingly. See Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012 for further information
Leaving an item at the Society does not constitute acceptance of the item into the BHS Collection.
Refused objects will be returned to the owner.
A BHS Deed of Gift September 2022 must be completed.