General News
1 December, 2025
Increased interest in Stawell’s history
ONE of Stawell’s most remarkable community assets will become more accessible to locals and visitors next month when Stawell Historical Society extends its opening hours. The volunteer-run organisation has seen a steady uptick in enquiries and decided to add an extra day for people to drop in, starting December 2.
“We will now be open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 4pm” said well-known historical society volunteer Greg Robson.
“Our museum will also be open on these days, at the same times as the research centre for those wanting to learn more about the history of Stawell and District.”
Mr Robson would love to see local residents who haven’t had a look at the museum stop by for a sticky beak, saying he thinks it would surprise people just how many local stories are told by the remarkable collection of artefacts on display.
“If you have never paid us a visit before, come down and have a look sometime,“ Mr Robson said.
“It will be well worth a visit and you will be surprised by what is hidden behind the red brick walls of the old Pleasant Creek Courthouse which is now the Pleasant Creek Museum.”
The historical society’s collection is nothing short of spectacular, something Mr Robson and his colleagues are very proud to present for everyone to enjoy and appreciate.
“There are over 1000 pieces of memorabilia in the museum and in storage dating back to the gold mining days in the 1850s,” he said.
“There are also over 5,000 photos on all aspects of Stawell’s history, including people, buildings, events, memorials.
“We also have the records of most of the births, deaths, marriages, baptisms and school enrolments, some of them dating back as far as the 1860s.”
Mr Robson said a big percentage of historical society enquiries come from people researching family history, and Stawell Historical Society makes it very accessible by charging very low fees to simply cover the costs of maintaining the facility.
“Our fees for family research are $15 per hour and admission to the museum is $5 per person,” he said.
“We also have the copies of the newspapers that have been available to the residents of Pleasant Creek and Stawell as far back as 1868, including The Pleasant Creek News and Wimmera Advertiser, Pleasant Creek News and Stawell Chronicle, Stawell News and Pleasant Creek Chronicle, Stawell Times and Wimmera Advertiser, The Stawell News, The Stawell Times and The Stawell Times-News.”
The Stawell Historical Society is located beside the Visitor Information Centre at 46 Longfield Street, and is open 10am to 4pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Read More: Stawell