~ History ~

The Society has been in existence since 1975 and since then has managed to gather from a wide range of services a large assortment of photos depicting people and events covering the period from when we were a Roads Broad District (1858) then a Shire (1871), then the City of Broadmeadows (1956) and finally the City of Hume.

Backing our photos up is a large source of written material of such things as recorded interviews from old time residents of the area, some of whom has since passed on.

We have also managed to acquire a large assortment of early maps recording the names of early land holders. Early land sale posters also make interesting perusing.

Cemetery listings that we have of the area are a source of information for people researching family history, Wil Wil Rook, Scotts Church, Donnybrook, Mickleham and Keilor.

As this material builds up, it of course becomes necessary to have somewhere permanent to store and display same.

The opportunity to achieve this came about in 1988 during the Bi-centennial year when the Victorian Bi-Centennial Committee contacted the then Broadmeadows City Council with an offer on a dollar for dollar basis to enable a suitable place to be purchased to create a museum as they felt that Broadmeadows was deserving of one.

The Historical Society was asked to try and find a suitable place especially from amongst the towns early homes in the area. Greystones came on the market and was within the price range, but was sold before the Council made a final decision.

Sawbridgeworth, now Wiseman House, in Widford Street, Glenroy was obviously the pick of the old homes around. It took a long while to get built but finally in April 1991 the building was officially opened by the Federal Member for Calwell, Mr. Andrew Theophanous and the Mayor of Broadmeadows, Mr. Joe Mallia.

Being especially built it had certain advantages over old homes. It has a central display room with space inset into one wall to locate the television which we bought to display our videos as well as a roll up screen to show our large array of slides when giving lectures to schools and any visiting local clubs. Along one side there is a glassed in colonial room where we hoped to set up early living room or school room displays. An archives room with plenty of space to store and prepare material is also available. Our map cabinet is stored there. Finally there is a committee room/kitchen/workroom with tea making facilities.

The Museum is air-conditioned to help in the preservation of the old material together with a security alarm system to protect a lot of irreplaceable photos. All told the Museum is a credit to the City of Hume to have such a site where the Broadmeadows history, dating back to Melbourne's earliest days, is available to the local community and visitors.

The big questions is "where are we?" something a lot of people are still unaware of. We are situated in the Broadmeadows Town Park which fronts Pearcedale Parade. We are behind the Leisure Centre and Youth Central buildings.

Museum opening hours are 10:00am to 12:00pm on Monday.

Other times by appointment with the President on 0419 506 926.