The day a group of Yass volunteers made their own history

Yass and District Historical Society patron Marion McCarthy (left) with president Cheryl Mongan at the opening of the centre. Photos: Sally Hopman.

Since 1961, when Yass and District Historical Society’s (YDHS) membership barely hit double figures, the dream was to establish a museum – a permanent home where like-minded people could meet and collect and preserve local history.

Fast-forward to 2023. In a letter from the Yass Valley Council, the YDHS was given 19 days’ notice to leave its premises, in the council’s Memorial Hall, because of urgent building renovations.

The YDHS had been in the hall for more than 40 years and, over that time, amassed what turned out to be more than 500 archive-type boxes full of material and many other items, mostly irreplaceable pieces of fragile history.

The group had no place to move to, no way to store its collection and no way to transport it safely – even if it could secure a new home.

Last Week (4 October), YDHS patron Marion McCarthy opened the Yass Valley History Centre in the main street. It took more than a year, the support of a community and funds from the NSW Government to make it happen, but particularly a collection of passionate volunteers, not only from the YDHS but from the Yass Antique Farm Machinery Club and Yass Men’s Club, which did all the heavy lifting.

Speaking at the official opening of the Yass History Centre, the group’s new permanent home, YDHS president Cheryl Mongan said the day would not have been possible without the support of volunteers.

“Today marks a milestone in the history of the society,” she said, adding that she had no doubt that all the members recalled the day in 2023 when they were advised they had 19 days’ notice to leave the Memorial Hall – and take their collection with them.

“No alternative accommodation was offered, so we just started packing boxes for what was then an unknown destination.”

But with the help of local state member Wendy Tuckerman, who was also Minister for Local Government with the previous government, they managed to settle temporarily in the old Yass ambulance station, but although helpful, it didn’t solve their long-term problems.

Member of the NSW Legislative Council Bob Nanva does the opening honours with YDHS patron Marion McCarthy.

However, when the NSW Government pledged $60,000 if it won the election, the YDHS decided to make the most of what it had: a building, although not fit for purpose, for its new permanent home. This was made possible with the government’s $60,000, a grant from Transgrid and donations from the Yass Soldiers Cub, Yass Rotary and locals.

The YDHS also staged an auction of surplus pieces amassed over the years that were either collection duplicates or which had no relevance to Yass. That money also went to establishing the centre.

Mrs Mongan said the former garage was repurposed, with everything from new insulation to pipes, carpet, wiring and shelving into a safe, secure place for the collection and a comfortable space for volunteers to work and people to do their research.

“We ended up moving in on 10 June, two weeks ahead of schedule,” she said.

YDHS volunteer Sheree Bamforth shows off one of her favourite items in the collection, an ancient fossil, many of which were found in nearby Dalton in 1880 by John Kennedy Hume, explorer Hamilton Hume’s nephew.

Welcoming its first visitors last Friday, Mrs Mongan said thanks to a generous community, voluntary labour and lots of sleepless nights, the museum was finished.

She also thanked patron Marion McCarthy for 10 years in that role and more than 30 as a valued member.

“She got us to where we are today,” Mrs Mongan said.

The new Yass Valley History Centre is in the main street, two doors down from the Tourist Information Centre. It is open on Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm and other days by appointment. For more information, email [email protected].