Shepparton Heritage Centre

21/10/2026

HIDDEN IN HISTORY – Captain Redgum
Meet Captain Jack Treacy, better known as “Captain Redgum”! From daring riverboat adventures on the Murray and Goulburn rivers to restoring a paddle steamer that spent 25 years underwater, his stories are full of surprises.
Did you know the Treacy family also owned a steam-powered sawmill in Mooroopna? Purchased in 1948, Treacy’s Sawmill operated for 40 years, with Treacy Street still commemorating their legacy today!
Discover the remarkable riverboat adventures and enduring family legacy in this week’s Shepparton News, Hidden in History.

https://www.sheppnews.com.au/hidden-history/captain-redgums-legacy/
Shepparton Heritage Centre – Preserving the Past to Inform the Future.

Do you have a story to share? We would love to hear about your local, family and community stories, memories, events and historical photographs. Email: [email protected] or phone 4831 8659. See less

19/10/2026

HIDDEN IN HISTORY – The Pear Force!
Imagine joining the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II to become a pilot, only to find yourself picking pears in Shepparton!
In one of the region’s most unusual wartime stories, 380 RAAF airmen found themselves grounded in the orchards, waiting for accommodation to become available so they could continue their flying training.
With their own unofficial “flying pear” badge and a Pear Pickers’ Mess banner, these frustrated flyers certainly found ways to keep their spirits up!
But how did Shepparton’s orchards become an unexpected posting for aspiring pilots? And what happened when one airman’s ladder collapsed?
Discover this fascinating and humorous slice of Shepparton’s wartime history in this week’s Hidden in History, brought to you by the Shepparton Heritage Centre.
Discover this fascinating glimpse into our past in the Shepparton News edition, Tuesday the 13th of October, Hidden in History, brought to you by the Shepparton Heritage Centre.
https://www.sheppnews.com.au/e-paper/
Do you have a story to share? We would love to hear about your local, family and community stories, memories, events and historical photographs. Email: [email protected] or phone 4831 8659.

19/10/2026

HIDDEN IN HISTORY – Sundowners Looked After
Imagine arriving at a farmhouse just as the sun sets, hoping for a feed and somewhere to rest for the night!
In the early days of the Australian bush, these wandering travellers were known as sundowners. By custom, a little kindness went a long way — and even a simple stone placed on a farm gatepost could carry a special message to those passing through.
What did this curious signal mean, and how did bush hospitality help travellers along their way?
Discover this fascinating glimpse into our past in the Shepparton News edition, Tuesday the 6th of October, Hidden in History, brought to you by the Shepparton Heritage Centre.
A story of hardship, generosity and the unwritten rules of the bush.
https://www.sheppnews.com.au/hidden-history/sundowners-looked-after/
Do you have a story to share? We would love to hear about your local, family and community stories, memories, events and historical photographs. Email: [email protected] or phone 4831 8659.

18/10/2026

Our Don!

The Shepparton Heritage Centre proudly congratulates our Board Chairman, Mr Don Kilgour (OAM), on receiving national recognition for his outstanding contribution to Australian football.
Following the presentation of an AFL State Merit Award at the recent Goulburn Valley League Grand Final, Don received the national honour at an AFL function on 8 October.
Over six decades, Don has dedicated himself to promoting, broadcasting and administering country football. His radio career began in the mid-1960s alongside his brother Rod, following their radio training in Melbourne.
These prestigious honours are a wonderful recognition of Don’s lifelong commitment to the game and his contribution to the community.
We are incredibly proud to have Don as our Chairman. Congratulations on this well-deserved achievement!

28/09/2026

27/09/2026

HIDDEN IN HISTORY – Curious tales from our past

The Shepparton Heritage Centre is proud to provide the stories behind the Hidden in History column, published every Tuesday by the Shepparton News.

This weeks Hidden in History column, Monkey Business
What do you do when a monkey breaks its leg?
In 1936 Shepparton, the answer was surprisingly simple — call the doctor!
When the resident monkey of Queen’s Gardens took an unfortunate tumble, he found himself on the operating table, under chloroform, with a doctor carefully setting his tiny broken bones.
But that wasn’t the end of this unusual medical drama… There was a special hospital cage, a very human-like patient, and even a poet who had something to say about his recovery!
What happened next?
Discover the full, fascinating story in this week’s Hidden in History in the Shepparton News. https://www.sheppnews.com.au/e-paper/

Do you have a story to share? We would love to hear about your local, family and community stories, memories, events and historical photographs. Email: [email protected] or phone 4831 8659.

20/09/2026

Book Now!!

⁉ Did you know the Goulburn River once flowed through Monash Park?

Journey back in time with RiverConnect and the Shepparton Heritage Centre as you follow the former path of the Goulburn River.

Discover where the town began on the riverbank, reimagine the old swimming beach and hear stories of recreation, community and life along the water's edge.

Learn how the river shaped the early town and uncover a side of Shepparton's history that many locals have never experienced.

📍 Monash Park, starting near Historical Signage under green shelter
📆 Tuesday 22 September, 10am - 11.30am
🎟️ Free event
✅ Registrations preferred https://events.humanitix.com/follow-the-river-monash-park-2026 or phone 5832 9714

17/09/2026

HIDDEN IN HISTORY – Curious tales from our past

The Shepparton Heritage Centre is proud to provide the stories behind the Hidden in History column, published every Tuesday by the Shepparton News.

This weeks Hidden in History column, Cleary stands firm at Waranga. Would you stay in your house if the Government told you it was about to be flooded?

In 1906, Mrs Thomas Cleary of Waranga Basin wasn’t planning to leave quietly! As rising waters crept towards her cottage, she reportedly declared she would “stay in the old home until the Government drowned her.”

What followed was a curious dispute involving £20, a threatened escape to the roof, and a surprising twist about the Cleary family.

Discover the full, fascinating story in this week’s Hidden in History in the Shepparton News. https://www.sheppnews.com.au/hidden-history/cleary-stands-firm-at-waranga/

17/09/2026

Discover Shepparton’s Forgotten River Course

Standing in Monash Park today, it’s hard to imagine that the Goulburn River once flowed through a very different landscape.

Join us as we step back in time and trace the original course of the Goulburn River, beginning at the green shelter at Monash Park. Along the way, guest speakers from the Shepparton Heritage Centre will share fascinating stories about the river, the early development of Shepparton township, and the people and events that helped shape our community.

Come along, explore the landscape through a historical lens, and discover the stories hidden beneath the streets and parks we know today.

* Meeting point: Green shelter, Monash Park
* Discover the river that once was
* Presented by River Connect and Shepparton Heritage Centre
Everyone is welcome!

FREE event
https://events.humanitix.com/follow-the-river-monash-park..

11/09/2026

HIDDEN IN HISTORY – Curious Tales from Our Past
History isn’t always found in textbooks or behind museum glass. Sometimes, the most fascinating stories are the quirky, unexpected and humorous tales hidden within our own local community!

The Shepparton Heritage Centre is proud to provide the stories behind the Hidden in History column, published every Tuesday by the Shepparton News.
Our local history is filled with intriguing characters, surprising events, unusual happenings and wonderful stories that help bring the past to life. Through Hidden in History, we love uncovering these lesser-known pieces of our region’s history and sharing them with the wider community.

While the Shepparton Heritage Centre is dedicated to preserving our local heritage and ensuring the stories of the past are not forgotten, Hidden in History gives us an opportunity to explore that history with a lighter, more entertaining touch.

Then be sure to look out for Shepparton Heritage Centre’s Hidden in History column every Tuesday in the Shepparton News.
You never know what fascinating piece of our past might be uncovered next!
Preserving the Past to Inform the Future.

https://www.sheppnews.com.au/hidden-history/small-fortune-lost-in-river/