Colac & District Family History Group Inc.

18/06/2026

📢 Can You Help?

The Colac & District Family History Group is looking to borrow a complete 1990s-era computer system for a short-term display project.

Ideally, we are seeking:
🖥️ A monitor
⌨️ A keyboard
💻 The computer tower/box
🖱️ A mouse (if available)

The computer does not need to be operational, just reasonably presentable. We will take great care of it while it is in our possession and return it promptly at the conclusion of the display.

If you have one tucked away in a shed, spare room, garage or office and would be willing to loan it to us, please send us a message or comment below.

Thank you for helping us bring a little piece of recent history back to life!

10/06/2026

𝑾𝒆'𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚!

Our window display team, Maree and Liz, have been busy once again, this time preparing for the launch of the Virtual Memorialisation Pilot Project on Wednesday, 24 June at COPACC.

𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏'𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒆𝒕, 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆. 𝑹𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒆'𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒋𝒐𝒊𝒏 𝒖𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆.

The first of our new window displays is already taking shape, featuring photographs from the Almost Forgotten Pre-1900 Burials Project. We've also loaded a new slideshow onto the TV in our window display area. If you have a spare ten minutes, stop by and take a look at some of the stories, photographs and discoveries that have emerged from more than ten years of research.

Behind the scenes, volunteers from the Colac & District Family History Group, together with staff from the Geelong Cemeteries Trust and Arrow Bronze, are all beavering away to ensure the launch is a memorable occasion.

This project represents thousands of hours of research and storytelling, bringing the lives of those buried in the Colac Cemetery back into public memory.

01/06/2026

Everyone is warmly invited to the launch of the Virtual Memorialisation Project on Wednesday 24 June at COPACC.

For the past ten years, volunteers from the Colac & District Family History Group have been researching the lives of people buried in the Colac Cemetery before 1900. Many of these men, women and children were pioneers, farmers, tradespeople, mothers, fathers and community members whose stories have largely been forgotten.

Through an exciting partnership with the Geelong Cemeteries Trust and Arrow Bronze, those stories are now being brought back to life. At the pilot stage, up to 200 cemetery burials will feature a short history, images and, in time, an audio recording that visitors can access while standing in the cemetery.

This is a first for our district and one of the most significant heritage projects. Whether you have family connections to the cemetery, an interest in local history, or simply enjoy discovering the stories of ordinary people who helped build our community, we would love to see you there.

Please feel free to share this invitation with family and friends. Everyone is welcome.

We warmly invite you to the launch of the Virtual Memorialisation Pilot Project in Colac, a collaboration between Geelong Cemeteries Trust, Colac & District Family History Group Inc. and Arrow Bronze Pty Ltd.

Join us as we celebrate this exciting initiative, preserving and sharing local stories, history and legacy through innovative digital memorialisation.

Registrations are required. For the event program and RSVP link, click here: https://gct.net.au/resource/virtual-memorialisation-pilot-launch/

Please respond by Wednesday 10 June 2026.

We look forward to welcoming you to this meaningful event.

25/05/2026

Good news for anyone who missed out on a copy of Alan Doyle’s Butchers of Colac! A fresh batch has arrived at the History Centre.

If you have a copy on order, you’re welcome to collect it at your convenience. Better still, all copies are personally signed by Alan... and we have a few extra copies for sale.

22/05/2026

𝙂𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝 – 𝙥𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙧𝙮!
Everyone at the Family History Group is busy working on the Virtual Memorialisation Pilot Project
Volunteers are researching pre-1900 burials, writing stories, editing and reviewing drafts, searching for photographs and, with the wonderful assistance of OCR FM, recording the stories.
The first photo shows members of the team reviewing and editing stories, while the second captures OCR FM recording these fascinating local histories.
We are excited that these stories will soon be available for visitors to access at gravesites throughout the Colac Cemetery as part of an innovative partnership with the Geelong Cemeteries Trust and Arrow Bronze.
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟰 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗖.
Mark the date in your diary and stay tuned for more details. We can't wait to share these remarkable stories of Colac's early residents and ensure they are remembered for generations to come.


Photo 1: One of our teams - Lynne, Lexie and Karen, reviewing and editing stories for the Almost Forgotten Cemetery Project.
Photo 2 & 3: OCR FM volunteer Tyson with Brian and Deb recording stories that will soon be available at gravesites in Colac Cemetery.

21/05/2026

If you haven't seen our tribute to all of our wonderful volunteers, you'll need to be quick — it will only be on display for a few more days!

Under each photograph we've listed the main tasks that person performs for our Family History Group. The challenge wasn't finding something to write — it was deciding what to leave out! We had to limit each description to just a few lines, but for many volunteers, their contributions could easily fill half a page.

Next time you visit, take a moment to have a look and appreciate the amazing people who keep our group running. Thank you to every one of our volunteers — we simply couldn't do it without you! 😊

18/05/2026

𝘼𝙨 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙑𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙒𝙚𝙚𝙠 we want to sincerely thank every one of our wonderful volunteers. Whether researching for the Almost Forgotten Project, helping visitors, working on displays, indexing records, scanning photographs, assisting at events or quietly helping behind the scenes — every contribution matters enormously.

The display in our windows - a gallery of all of our volunteers and the work they do - is a reminder of the people who give time, share skills and are dedicated to preserving the stories and history of our community. Lives almost forgotten are being remembered again.

Thank you for being such an important team.

Preparation for our window display today. Red (the official colour of National Volunteer Week) Balloons blown up and ready, and Liz carefully checking the photographs of all of our volunteers before putting them on display.

Huge thanks to the display team - Maree, Karen, Deb and Liz for a great job today

13/05/2026

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙈𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙖 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝘾𝙡𝙪𝙗 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙘

The Colac & District Family History Group is once again extremely grateful for the continued support of the Meriba Service Club of Colac towards our Almost Forgotten – Pre-1900 Burials project.

Over the past eleven years Meriba has supported this project from the very beginning — from early seed funding that helped us purchase death certificates and begin uncovering forgotten stories, to a generous grant two years ago to assist with obtaining the remaining certificates needed for the research.

Now, as we move into the exciting Virtual Memorialisation stage of the project, Meriba has again offered support, helping fund the recording of stories that will allow visitors to hear the lives and voices behind the graves.

With so many worthy organisations seeking assistance, we never take this support for granted and we sincerely thank the Meriba Service Club of Colac for believing in the importance of preserving our local history and community stories.

Community history survives because communities care enough to support it.

Photo: Grant recipients Josiah van Niekerk - Salvation Army and Glenn Rippon from Driver Reviver and Merrill O'Donnell from the family history group pictured with Sue Mulder, President of Meriba Service Club of Colac

12/05/2026

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗮𝘄𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 — 𝗔 𝗪𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗰 𝟭𝟴𝟰𝟵–𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

Five years of research, countless phone calls, interviews, photographs and stories… and now the first print run has sold out. More copies of Butchers of Colac 1849–2026 will be available soon.

It was a wonderful afternoon at the History Centre as members, friends, butchers past and present, and their families gathered for the launch of Alan Doyle’s remarkable book.

Amy Baudinette, President of the Colac Chamber of Commerce, officially launched the book, speaking warmly about the hard work of small businesses and the importance of preserving local histories before they are lost.

Robyn Currie then joined Alan “In Conversation”, exploring why he chose Colac’s butchers as his subject, the five years of research involved, and the memorable stories uncovered along the way.

Over afternoon tea, memories came flooding back — the sawdust on the floor, the worn chopping block, the butcher rhythmically sharpening his knives while carrying on a conversation, then the familiar clang and rattle as they dropped back into the metal pouch at his waist.

More than just a history of butcher shops, this beautiful book captures the people, personalities and traditions that shaped Colac for generations.

Photographs: Alan Doyle and Robyn Currie "in conversation" discuss the process of researching and writing the book
Amy Baudinette, President Colac Chamber of Commerce - officially launches the book
Alan signing one of the last copies of his book. If you missed out the good news is that there are going to be more books printed.

11/05/2026

A reminder that the launch of Butchers of Colac 1849–2026 is on today, 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟮 𝗮𝘁 𝟭:𝟯𝟬 𝗽𝗺 at the History Centre, COPACC.

Join us for the official launch with Amy Baudinette, followed by Alan Doyle “In Conversation” with Robyn Currie.

A wonderful afternoon of local stories, memories and nostalgia — from the family butcher shop to the blue and white striped aprons, the sawdust on the floor and the cheeky banter across the counter.

Afternoon tea to follow.
All welcome.