Corowa Federation Museum

Corowa Federation Museum Situated in the old Border Brass Band Hall
visit the story of Corowa's role
in Australian Federation and many other wonderful displays

The museum is open:
Monday 2pm - 4pm, Tuesday 10am - 4pm, Thursday, Saturday 1pm - 4pm

Please call 0407 332310 to arrange a visit outside of these hours. Our charges are: Adult $5, Student $2
Bus groups: can have one of our Volunteers board the bus for an informative tour of the town @ $2 pp. Our museum boasts a very good, clear story about the years leading toward Federation. It is suitabl

e for school children and adults. During the 1880's the Government seemed to put Federation on hold. In the towns on each side of the Murray River, the tariffs and charges were crippling businesses and making it next to impossible for householders who had to purchase their food in the opposite states. Members of the Federation League and the Natives Society decided to hold a conference on the border and they chose Corowa because it was central to most of the people who were to attend. It was at this Conference that John Quick, from the Natives Association at Bendigo, put forward his proposal which made it impossible for Government to keep shuffling the problem about and causing them to hold the Premiers' conference in 1895. At this Premiers' conference the Government acted upon the proposal put by John Quick and on January 1, 1901 the Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed and Corowa claimed the title of 'Birthplace of Federation'. We have sketches by Tommy McRae, a local Aboriginal Artist from the Lake Moodemere district. We also have other links to artists such as Tom Roberts, who painted his iconic 'Shearing the Rams' on a property north of Corowa, and some wonderful oil paintings by a Tasmanian convict artist, Costantini, portraits of one of our earliest families, the Martins, who built the Royal Hotel at Corowa. There are some lovely old gigs and wagons, lots of saddlery, a locally built gas producer, a number of locally made agricultural implements by Riverina Harvester Co & John Oswald & Sons, and some wonderful displays that bring back memories of how Australians lived in the early years. We also boast a great display of tools used in the early days. The museum is managed by a group of volunteers, members of Corowa District Historical Society Inc.

From the ArchivesA view of the XPT at Corowa Railway Station, 1988. šŸš„Do you remember when passenger trains still passed ...
31/05/2026

From the Archives

A view of the XPT at Corowa Railway Station, 1988. šŸš„

Do you remember when passenger trains still passed through the town?

Following up on last weekā€™s post, read below to find out what happened after Miss Christie left town!Source: Trove, Nati...
27/05/2026

Following up on last weekā€™s post, read below to find out what happened after Miss Christie left town!

Source: Trove, National Library of Australia

From the ArchivesLooking southwest along Sanger Street in 1992!Do you recognise any of the local businesses? šŸ§
24/05/2026

From the Archives

Looking southwest along Sanger Street in 1992!

Do you recognise any of the local businesses? šŸ§

There was once a time when our rural township had a number of hospitals. šŸ„It is believed that Miss Christieā€™s Hospital w...
20/05/2026

There was once a time when our rural township had a number of hospitals. šŸ„

It is believed that Miss Christieā€™s Hospital was located somewhere along Evelyn Street. Do you know where it may have been?

Stay tuned as next week weā€™ll be sharing what happened to the hospital after Miss Christieā€™s departure from the town.

Source: Trove, National Library of Australia

From the ArchivesCheck out the great produce at the Green Basket Fruit and Vegetable shop, c. 1980s. šŸThe Green Basket w...
17/05/2026

From the Archives

Check out the great produce at the Green Basket Fruit and Vegetable shop, c. 1980s. šŸ

The Green Basket was situated where the entrance to Woolworths is, on Sanger Street.

Have you seen the marble altar that still stands in the Catholic Church? Source: Trove, National Library of Australia
13/05/2026

Have you seen the marble altar that still stands in the Catholic Church?

Source: Trove, National Library of Australia

From the ArchivesAnother great Sanger Street business!Corowa Meats in 1985. šŸ„©
10/05/2026

From the Archives

Another great Sanger Street business!

Corowa Meats in 1985. šŸ„©

Fascinating
08/05/2026

Fascinating

Fortunately, the pilot overcame the difficulty and didnā€™t have to make an emergency landing!Itā€™s wonderful how the town ...
06/05/2026

Fortunately, the pilot overcame the difficulty and didnā€™t have to make an emergency landing!

Itā€™s wonderful how the town can come together in times of need. šŸ«¶

Source: Trove, National Library of Australia

This week weā€™re sharing an object from the Museum! Do you recognise what it is? šŸ§This printing press was used by the Cor...
03/05/2026

This week weā€™re sharing an object from the Museum!

Do you recognise what it is? šŸ§

This printing press was used by the Corowa Free Press in the 1800s. A little different to todayā€™s technology!

Pop down to the Museum to see this beautiful old piece of machinery in person.

PS. Our ā€˜From the Archivesā€™ posts will be returning next Monday! šŸŒŸ

Address

56 Queen Street
Corowa, NSW
2646

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 1pm - 4pm
Saturday 1pm - 4pm

Telephone

+61407332310

Website

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