The Macleay River Historical Society was founded in 1960.

The Kempsey Museum, run by the society, is located in South Kempsey. The building was opened in April 1983. Prior to this, the museum was housed in Elbow Street, West Kempsey.
The museum has three areas:

• Collections and displays of historic artifacts, relating to the Macleay district.
• The Research Department. There is an extensive collection of local history and family files in the library and record room. This service is available for anyone wishing to research local families, locations and topics.
• The Photographic Section. The collection includes more than 40,000 images and photographs. This world-class asset is made up not only of local donations but also of several major collections of professional quality.

The Macleay River Historical Society’s award-winning Kempsey Museum is housed in the unique Glenn Murcutt Building adjacent to the Visitor Information Centre in South Kempsey. The Settler’s Cottage is in the museum courtyard. It was built in about 1910 and had been moved several times before being acquired by the museum in 1990.

There is an extensive collection of local history and family files in the library and record room, covering:

• Family history
• History of the Macleay Valley
• District history
• Local newspapers
• Photographs
• Cemetery records

More specifically, for example:

• NSW Council of Education: Correspondence, 1875- ; Schools local, 1850- .
• Society files: Aboriginal studies, 1890- ; Shipping, 1837- ; Family histories, 1837- ; Timber industry, 1836- ; John Verge, 1837- ; Articles on Macleay River, 1821- ; Maritime history, 1836- .
• Macleay Argus Newspaper: Files, 1885-1994 (gaps). These files are on microfilm.
• Macleay Chronicle: Files, 1899-1919 complete. Further files available. These files are on microfilm.
• Department of Lands: Parish maps.
• Irvine Davis files: Family and local histories, 1859- .
• Major Lionel Rudder: Enoch William Rudder, 1836- .

The photographic collection, covering history on the Macleay from 1830 to the present, includes more than 40,000 images and photographs, most of which are fully catalogued and cross-referenced.

To undertake research please download, complete and return the form you will find HERE.

Museum Open 10am – 4pm. Except for Christmas Day & Good Friday.

Postal Address:
PO Box 390 Kempsey NSW 2440