The aim of the Bendigo Historical Society Inc. is to encourage and facilitate the study of the history of Bendigo and the district. The Society shall acquire, research, preserve, conserve, interpret and exhibit material that illustrates this history.

The Bendigo Historical Society holds a culturally and historically significant collection of books, documents, photographs, artworks, textiles and objects. Many of the photographs and documents are irreplaceable.

The collection includes more than 40,000 items:

• An important photographic and document record of the city in terms of culture, business, and social development since 1851
• 5000 books, journals and ledgers dating from 1860
• A small collection of newspapers dating from 1860
• Over 20.000 individual documents and paper-based ephemera
• Over 400 pamphlets
• A photographic collection of over 4000 items with the majority pre-1960
• Approximately 1200 negatives and glass plates
• 600 maps and architectural plans dating from 1870
• 190 framed artworks
• A collection of textiles and objects including pre-1910 furniture, some dating from 1870
• More than 1200 items of clothing dating from the 1850s

Access to the Collection storage facility in Nolan Street is by appointment to make donations of items to the collection and for assistance with research requests.

The volunteers at Nolan Street are progressively cataloguing the collection and entering the data onto Collections Management and Archiving Software (MOSAiC).

Volunteers are available to answer enquiries and assist with research queries.

There is an initial charge of $10.00 for research services.

Download the Research request form and send to research@bendigohistory.com

or post to PO Box 2309, Mail Centre Bendigo 3554