The Seymour and District Historical Society has played a vital part in preserving the town’s history.
This year, its members are celebrating 60 years, just in time for them to be back in their ‘home’ at the Pioneer Library in Tallarook St.
According to life member John Jennings, the society’s history goes all the way back to 1958 when the then Seymour Shire Council decided to get someone to write a book about the history of Seymour.
“They asked a fellow by the name of Harold Martindale to write the book, and the book was called New Crossing Place,” Mr Jennings said.
“The shire at the time decided that the former historical committee were to assist with the publication.
“That was formed, led by the shire — mostly councillors and a couple of interested members of the community.”
By 1964, the former historical committee had grown, and so the members decided to form the Seymour and District Historical Society Inc.
As the date of the 60th anniversary approaches (Sunday, October 13), the members are reminiscing about the big projects the society has done.
“The first major project that they did was getting what most people call the Black Train,” Mr Jennings said.
“It's actually a loco (locomotive).
“It was purchased and restored, and that was the first major thing.”
Mr Jennings also highlighted a glass hearse that was purchased and restored by the society.
It was kept in Seymour for a number of years and was then sold to the Melbourne Museum.
“I've seen it twice in the last 10 years,” he said.
“Once in storage down at the science museum, and once as the major feature in a display they had at the museum.”
Another project the society is proud of is the “local locker”, which still stands in Seymour today, behind the original courthouse, which is now the town’s information centre.
“It’s an old jail made of logs,” Mr Jennings said.
“The jail itself is moving from time to time, but firstly by the river, then it was at the police station.”
The society also put markers on historical sites around town.
Now, the society is taking a stride in digitising its collection for safekeeping, especially after its museum was damaged by the 2022 floods.
“That was a grant from PROV (Public Records Office Victoria), so that we could buy some new equipment,” decade-long member Nancy Halpin said.
“After the floods, we really do need to update the computers, update the printers, that sort of thing.”
This is also a step for the society to bring in other members such as Mara Silvestro and Rosemary Dwyer to help in digitising the records.
“After the floods, we spent three weeks at Whiteheads Creek just laying the papers out and drying it,” Ms Halpin said.
The society’s website is on its way to being launched, according to Ms Silvestro.
“It will start off small, and it’ll be built up over time,” she said.
“When it is available for people, it’ll just have some basic pages, but then over time, it’ll be built.
“We might have more photos and articles ... certainly, there’ll be a ‘how to contact us’, who the committee members are, and all those sort of details about the Pioneer Library.”
The Seymour and District Historical Society will celebrate its 60th anniversary on Sunday, October 13, at The Royal Hotel, with past and present members invited.
“We’re fortunate, really, that we had the community involved,” Mr Jennings said.
“Seymour has been a good town to be in. The community’s got involved and supported us.”