Emerald and District Museum

Emerald and District Museum Tracing the history of Emerald & surrounding districts, and the former Nobelius Nursery. A. Nobelius & Sons Nursery (VHR place details ID/H2285). Linton.

Emerald Museum was established as a formal collecting entity in 1969 based at the Emerald Hall, acquiring material by donation from local community members. In 1988, the former Shire of Sherbrooke with the help of State Government purchased the only remaining section of the former C. By the late 1980s the collection had been relocated to a shed on the former nursery. This collection included writt

en records of the nursery’s operations that had been maintained throughout its ownership by the Nobelius family and L. However in the damp shed, the collection’s condition deteriorated. The nursery records received extensive conservation treatment to restore their condition and are now held as a complete collection at Emerald Museum. After the Emerald community lobbied extensively for a place to house their local heritage, the Shire agreed to construct a purpose-built facility within the former nursery where it has resided since 1993. The land was officially opened as the public ‘Nobelius Heritage Park’ in the same year. The Museum is an archival repository and display centre for a wide range of items that relate to the history of the former Gembrook/C. Nobelius & Sons Nursery as well as Emerald and surrounding districts. Nobelius Heritage Park is registered on the Victorian Heritage Database as a site of State significance, being an intact 12-acre remnant of the former Nobelius Nursery that operated between 1886 and 1955. Emerald Museum and Nobelius Heritage Park are Council-owned and maintained, and are administered by a volunteer Committee of Management under Deed of Delegation from Cardinia Shire Council. This Committee is known as the Nobelius Heritage Park & Emerald Museum Committee of Management (NHPEM) and has primary authority over collection management, administering a Council-allocated budget and overseeing a volunteer workforce to progress the collection. In conjunction with the Committee, a Museum Officer is employed by Cardinia Shire Council in a part-time role to lend professional expertise and develop current management practices at Emerald Museum. The entire repository is housed at the Museum within Nobelius Heritage Park and the majority of its most significant records relate to the former Nobelius Nursery’s operations. The earliest collection items are a small assemblage of Aboriginal stone tools from the local area that have not been absolutely dated. The collection was generated by the development of Emerald and surrounding districts and continues to acquire material as the region evolves.

In celebration of International Museum Day on Monday 18th May 2026, Emerald Museum is pleased to launch an audio tour of...
18/05/2026

In celebration of International Museum Day on Monday 18th May 2026, Emerald Museum is pleased to launch an audio tour of the Nobelius Heritage Park.

You can now visit the Nobelius Heritage Park, once home to the largest fruit and ornamental tree exporter in the southern hemisphere, the Gembrook or “Nobelius” Nurseries, and learn about its historical features and significant trees as you wander through it. The audio was recorded on site, so if you are unable to visit, the tour's ambient noises like birdsong, the rustling of leaves and Puffing Billy’s whistle will help to transport you to the Park.

You will find the audio tour on the Emerald Museum website. Listen to the full tour, or select key sites of interest from the map.

www.emeraldmuseum.org.au/audio-tour

Nobelius Heritage Park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Emerald Museum is located within the Park, and is open on Sundays 12.00-3.00 and Wednesdays 10.00-3.00 or to groups by appointment.

12/05/2026

You can now purchase a copy of Emerald in Focus from the Art in the Park Gallery, located in the Emerald Lake Park precinct.

In buying this book, you are supporting a local institution which preserves our collective memory and helps us to understand how the place where we live has evolved over time.

Every local home should have a copy!

More band
03/05/2026

More band

03/05/2026
Victorian Pipes and Drum band.. Emerald Museum today…
03/05/2026

Victorian Pipes and Drum band.. Emerald Museum today…

02/05/2026
Come on down to the Museum and Nobelius Heritage Park for our Heritage Festival Open day… Ambulances from the Ambulance ...
02/05/2026

Come on down to the Museum and Nobelius Heritage Park for our Heritage Festival Open day… Ambulances from the Ambulance Victoria Museum are here…a 1969 Chrysler Royal V8 and a GMC 3500 1998 !

Only one day to go until our Open Day!Join us on Sunday and uncover fascinating insights into the history of Emerald an...
01/05/2026

Only one day to go until our Open Day!

Join us on Sunday and uncover fascinating insights into the history of Emerald and surrounds, while also seeing how dedicated community members continue to shape its future. Meet our volunteers, learn how a local history museum comes to life behind the scenes, and enjoy activities and games designed for children and the young-at-heart.

Don’t miss the guided tour of the beautiful Nobelius Heritage Park at 11.00am - envision what the Nobelius Heritage Park looked like when it was home to the largest fruit and ornamental tree exporter in the southern hemisphere, the Gembrook or “Nobelius” Nurseries. Then explore the Museum to discover the nationally significant Nobelius Collection, and learn how it is being preserved for future generations.

Whether you’re a long-time local or a curious visitor, we would love to welcome you to the Emerald Museum.

Only one week to go until our Open Day, in celebration of the Australian Heritage Festival 2026!
26/04/2026

Only one week to go until our Open Day, in celebration of the Australian Heritage Festival 2026!

Address

5 Crichton Road
Emerald, VIC
3782

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 3pm
Sunday 12pm - 3pm

Telephone

0359682152

Website

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