To Learn more about this exciting project watch this short video presentation
Our appeal has been strongly supported and is still attracting generous donations and bequests. Every dollar will be spent wisely on exhibits telling the story of Mansfield. We still need your help please read on and consider donating.
A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR PAVER FUNDRAISER. THESE NAMED PAVERS WILL BE USED IN OUR LANDSCAPING PLANS AROUND THE ENTRANCE OF THE MUSUEM. THIS IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED IN A FEW MONTHS.
A message from our President
Dear Mansfield Community.
I am sure most of you will be aware that construction of the first stage of the Mansfield Heritage Museum has been completed. The locked up building is looking as good as we had hoped. Please drop by the Station platform for a look.
The history of the project and what happens next?
Stage one was supervised by the Shire of Mansfield with a local building company (Hennessey’s) constructing the building. It was designed by Taylor Consulting Engineers also located in Mansfield. Stage one was financed by a Federal Government grant which was only achieved by the generous donations from the Mansfield Community.
Stage two of the project will be next which is to fit out internal walls and ceiling and the administration room which will be the Historical Society’s new home. Any time now landscaping around the Museum and other important works including upgrading car parks will begin.
As at September 2025 we expect all this to start any day.
This Federal Government second stage grant money became possible because the Council application included the information regarding the Historical Society’s successful appeal for donations from the Community. We have been told by a reliable interstate source that this solid monetary investment by the Community in the project was the reason it was funded so well.
A BIG thank you to generous Mansfield- Lets keep going!
When the internal fit-outs are completed, the Mansfield Visitors Centre will be relocating to the Museum foyer. This will combine the energy of the two operations and attract even more visitors to the complex.
The final stage of the project is the one that the Historical Society is heavily involved with and responsible for. We are going to build world class exhibits worthy of the Mansfield district and its people.
More than a year ago we reached out to the community seeking support to raise $600,000 to professionally develop interpretative and educational facilities, and design and install the exhibits in the new building. I can now report we are three quarters of the way towards raising the required $600.000.00, however we must keep attracting donations to get the job done and costs are rising quickly.
Exciting news about creating the exhibits:
We are delighted that the project has engaged Andrew Johnson from Studio Johnson in Tasmania to design and supervise the construction of the exhibits. Andrew has been on board for some months to oversee this long and complicated project in conjunction with the Shire and the Historical Society.
It is planned that the exhibits will use the latest techniques to tell the story of Mansfield's proud history and culture including a significant display of local fish fossils going back to the start of time and the Taungurung first people’s story. The more recent history and pioneering feats connected to High Country grazing, timber, gold and tourism which built our district will also be featured.
We have some surprises to come, including displays reflecting on how the Man from Snowy River films and the spectacular development of Mt Buller changed Mansfield for the better.
The Historical Society is the guardian of many precious local artefacts and we want to be able to put them on display in rotation. We hope to have our larger items displayed outside under cover. When completed, the Museum will attract visitors to the town and encourage them to stay longer therefore increasing business opportunities. Importantly, it will educate our children and visiting schools about the long and proud history of Mansfield.
With community support we are confident we can achieve our aims with this exciting project which is our one chance to preserve and enrich our historical and cultural heritage for future generations. It will be a long-term investment for the Mansfield district.
The Historical Society is appreciative and publically recognises and thanks the Shire Councillors and CEO of the Shire of Mansfield for their strong ongoing support for the completion of the Museum.
Finance to finish the project and how to “keep the lights on” when it opens in 2027:
The federal Government has been very generous with grants to develop both the Museum and the wider Station Precinct. We think however the Society will still be short to finish the exhibits to the standard we aspire to.
The State Government is in deep financial trouble and therefore any grants from that source are unlikely.
We are therefore continuing to ask for our local community’s financial support. I hope you don’t mind this continued approach on behalf of a very important local project which will both assist to preserve local history and boost economic growth through tourism and research.
As a guide, in the past six weeks to September first 2025 we have been given a very generous donation, another one to restore a large artefact and several contributions in kind. We are also negotiating with a family regarding a significant bequest. All these contributions are coming from families with long connections to the district.
I invite you to have a look at our video on the QR code below using your mobile phone.
As a longer term suggestion, as I announced earlier, some families may consider a bequest to the Museum in their wills. I would be very glad to call around to discuss this option, I would be happy to tell everyone interested more about the project including other donation options if you would like to get involved. All donations are tax deductible.
Yours sincerely
Graeme Stoney AM
President - Mansfield Historical Society
Mansfield Heritage Museum as at September 2025
About the Mansfield Historical Society
The Historical Society houses a vast collection of photos, clothing, stories and equipment from a bygone era, that has been donated and bequeathed from Mansfield families and individuals. They are also the custodians of over 1200 family files which include photographs which currently are in the process of being digitised. “We have family members who come in to discover pictures of their relatives that they’ve never seen before,” said curator – Ann Ware.
The Mansfield Historical Society volunteers work tirelessly to capture, research and record our history. One of the current research projects includes the provenance of a buggy believed to be connected to the Widow of Wappan, Anne Bon (1838-1936) – pastoralist, philanthropist and advocate for Aboriginal people.
Currently this collection of Mansfield’s history is housed in numerous storage facilities scattered around the district, out of sight. Recently a significantly important local collection was lost due to lack of storage and now these historical and valuable artifacts of yesteryear will be scattered across the countryside and lost forever instead of remaining intact in Mansfield as part of our unique heritage.
MHS has been building a case for many years for the funding of a new Mansfield Heritage Museum (MHM) which will form a key part of the new Mansfield Shire Precinct Project and the new home of the Historical Society.
In 2022 funding of approximately $1.5M was obtained with the help of Mansfield Shire Council and the local community to enable MHS to build the new MHM (building shell to lockup) which has been completed.
MHS still needs to continue raising significant funds to finance the design and maintenance of our world class exhibits telling the story of Mansfield since deep time.
Our district has a rich history in farming, timber and gold, with wonderful stories of prominent families, successes and losses, crime, murder, war and mayhem just waiting to be discovered.