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Quambatook Historical Centre

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Quambatook Historical Centre

The Quambatook Historical Centre is the gathering place for the history of Quambatook ("Quamby") and surrounds.

30/05/2026

Even though we took no photos at our open day, we did have a visitor bring in a collection of old photos to donate to our collection. Most don’t have anything written on the back, some do say things like ‘Dads car’ …ummm not that helpful but we will continue to investigate. One large photo was an aerial shot of a farm house. The donator had no idea whose farm it was. However one of our volunteers on the day Jackie, recognised it as her grandparents farm at Budgerum. We love piecing the jigsaw of our heritage together.

27/05/2026

A big THANK YOU to those who came to the Historical Centre on our Open Weekend.

We are very grateful to everyone, both local and from neighbouring towns, who came to visit and in turn, supported us.

Your entrance fees, preserve sales, all those cups of teas and scone/jelly slices sales (plus the odd donation) will help immensely.

Funds will go towards the numerous jobs that need doing at the centre.

We were so busy we forgot to take photos so this is the only one we have.

Thanks again everyone.

Thanks also to Briony, Jackie, Prue (and Ian) and Kerry for a wonderful and rewarding event.

24/05/2026

End of an era….

18/05/2026

This weekend the Quambatook Historical Centre is having an open weekend.
We will be open from 10 to 4 on both Saturday and Sunday.
We will also have light refreshments available as a fundraiser.
Come say hello.

23/04/2026

Project Update - Quambatook Football Club B&F

Here is what we have (so far) for the best and fairest for the football club.

Thanks to all who contacted Kerry with information after the last call out.

And always grateful to Veronica Parker and the Boort Historical Centre for their on going support.

And as you can see, there are only 10 missing names. Great effort everyone.

Do you think your name or your dads/husbands/brothers/sons name should be in here?

As always, let us know if you can help complete this list.

Kerry Free
0429 007 732

10/04/2026

A recent arrival to the Historical Centre is certainly piece of postal history.

We have acquired an envelope with an ink stamp on the front commemorating a very significant event, the very first airmail flight to the UK - which took place in 1931.

This envelop (sadly with no contents) is addressed to the Postmaster at the post office in Lewes, Sussex East in England and was one of 8577 letters sent from Victoria.

It is post marked the 18th April 1931 and our research found that the first flight left Darwin on the 24th April 1931.

On the front in blue pen above the ‘by air mail’ sticker it says ‘Australia To’ and below it says ‘England’.

In red pen below that it says ‘Experimental Air Flight’.

On the back are numerous post office stamps and some more writing saying ‘open carefully please’.

Last photo curtesy the Archives - SMH/The Age

07/04/2026

Does anyone remember the State Bank? Did you bank there? Did you go to the community meeting when the announcement was made of its closure?

At the Historical Center we are lucky enough to have the sign that went up when it was closing.

We also found a few pictures of the bank and an article featuring Jan Free who worked there and transferred to the agency within The Stores.

In case you cant quite read the article, the transscript is below.

Our branch at Quambatook has been closed, to be replaced by an agency - but this is an agency with the difference. It will be operated by the former clerical assistant at our Quambatook branch, Miss Jan Free, a beauty competition winner, now an employee of the storekeeper who conducts the agency.

Jan will continue to wear her bank uniform, and the section of general store used for banking will be furnished in a manner of a branch. Because of Jan's unusual experience, facilities available at the agency will be only marginally less than those of a branch. The situation incidentally was made possible by Jan’s uncommon loyalty to the bank. She declined other offers of employment - including one from other another bank - to work for the agent.

Considering Jan’s personal popularity in the district and of course her professional competence, we feel that the compromise should satisfy the local population - whose disappointment at the branches closure was voiced at a Public Meeting. Messers. T. S. Craddock and W. A. Jones were there on the occasion to fully explain the Bank’s action. Incidentally, in its 127 years, the bank has only permanently closed one other branch – Walhalla.

That's not a bad record of service to a state whose population is ‘unprofitability’ spread. If Jan Free is our youngest and newest agent, then John Miles of the Newlyn Agency can claim opposite distinctions. At 90 years of age he would be our oldest active agent with a unique record of continuous service for 49 years.

30/01/2026

Edit to original post: Thanks everyone Kerry has the info she was chasing.

Kerry is chasing some info, if anyone can help out.

21/01/2026

If anyone has any photographs we can copy from tennis finals/ important comps held back in Quamby tennis’s hey day, please give us a hoy

Kerang - Quambatook Lawn Tennis Assn.

Quambatook White Premiers 1977/78

Back - Peter Schlitz, Gwen Gawne, Steve Ryan, Robyn Coughlan, Pete D, Steve H, John Ryan, David McGrath, Leslie Tuohey, Trevor Bennet, Jan Fitcher

Front - Nyrie Ryan, Norma Bennet, Judy Cameron

10/11/2025

1963 - 18 year old Quambatook FC’s Noel Holt wins the Mid Murray Football League Seniors Best and Fairest.

Thanks everyone for chiming in with some of those missing Best and Fairest winners for the football - netball to follow - let us know anytime if any others come to light.

Address

Quambatook, VIC
3540

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