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Geelong Museum Association Inc

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Geelong Museum Association Inc

The Geelong Museum Association Inc. is providing a means of educating and inspiring the people of Ge

During the 1950’s the Geelong Museum in Moorabool Street was pulled down, the collection was dispersed and lost forever. Many artefacts of value were lost and cannot show future generations the values and sacrifices made to get to where we are today. The members of the Geelong Museum Association desire to ensure the preservation of any material evidence of Geelong’s heritage for the benefit of its

citizens and recognises the urgent need for a physical means of educating and inspiring the people of Geelong about its heritage. The Association consists of a number of existing groups and individuals who facilitate exhibitions about Geelong’s history at the historic Osborne House mansion in North Geelong. Since closure of Osborne House by the City of Greater Geelong in 2017, our collection has been placed in storage. A small museum and headquarters is being established in the historic 'Otties Eats' shed at the Geelong Showgrounds. A 'Last Sunday' series of monthly talks take place at the National Wool Museum, Geelong, commencing at 2 pm o the last Sunday of each month, February until November inclusive.

22/05/2026

The Ararat to Portland railway will be the topic for our next 'Last Sunday' talk series, on Sunday 30 May.

The railway was opened in 1878 and became the main conduit for wheat, wool and other products from South West Victoria and the Wimmera to the Port of Portland. The line fed that port, rather than Geelong or Melbourne.

Norman Houghton OAM is one of Victoria's leading railway historians and has been writing on rail and other history topics since the 1970's. He has published many local history books and his latest is on the Portland Railway. Copies will be for sale following the talk.

The talk is held at the National Wool Museum Geelong from 1.30pm until 3pm. Gold Coin donation appreciated.

15/04/2026

A Hidden Tragedy - The Sinking of HMAS Goorangai

Many books have been written about Australians in World War Two. Most of these stories are of overseas events. Only a few stories have been stories in Australia. Most Australians would know of the aerial attacks on Darwin by the Japanese and the midget submarine attack on Sydney or maybe the HMAS Sydney / Kormoran sea battle.

This book describes a little-known collision between a minor warship HMAS Goorangai and a much larger merchantman MV Duntroon within Port Phillip bay less than 100 km from Melbourne in 1940.

The Goorangai sank while taking her whole ships company of 24 to their deaths. Goorangai had been deployed on operation, clearing a German laid sea mines in Bass Strait before the collision.
The few times the collision has been previously written about, the story has been tainted by those with vested interest or using sloppy interpretation of the facts.

This fully referenced story tells the whole story of the collision, search, salvage and after events and speaks to the reason how the Duntroon’s master who caused the collision got off all charges and why the unidentified sailor was and remains unidentified. The story gives perspective so the true story becomes evident to the reader.

Author bio
Andrew was in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve unit where the Goorangai ships company were drawn, Mine Warfare Group 54 in its 1980’s re-incarnation. In his 40-year part time naval career the author has had sea postings on seven patrol boats and worked outside his normal naval branch as a Petty Officer Marine Technician operating Minesweeping Drone Boats, Precise Navigation and Stonefish Exercise Mines.

Professionally, Andrew has worked with the Department of Defence for 38 years with his last appointment as a Senior Technical Advisor in a direct fire support weapon procurement project. Before this, he specialised in the field of Explosive Ordnance after starting work in the department as a Naval Dockyard apprentice.

To Purchase the book https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/a-hidden-tragedy

28/11/2025

November 30th
Cancellation of the Sunday Series Talk

Unfortunately, the Sunday series talk for November has had to be cancelled. I must apologize for this late notice.

Our next talk will be the 29th of March 2026.
The topic will be the closure of the Geelong Tramways.
Michael Menzies will present a talk commemoration the 70th anniversary of the closure of tram transport in Geelong on March 1956.

I wish to thank all that attended the 2025 talks and hope that we can see you in 2026.

24/10/2025

Sunday Series Talk: Sunday 26th October.

Vietnam and war. 1.30pm, National Wool Museum, Geelong.

Most of us are familiar with the Vietnam War, but there is much to learn in order to understand the wider picture. This talk will encompass a short history of Vietnam with emphasis on the French colonisation of Indo China.

We will look at the rise of Nationalism under Ho Chi Minh, the Japanese occupation in World War 2, American involvement during that time and the reoccupation by France, the subsequent war with France 1945-54. Partition and civil war, the American War 1963-75, Australian involvement, the communist victory and refugees and finally Vietnam today.

Vaugham Lamb attended Melbourne University during the latter part of the Vietnam War. He holds a degree in history and political science as well as a law degree. He practised as a solicitor for 42 years, but his passion has always been military history and political science. He lectures on these topics at U3A Geelong. We welcome his talk as part of our monthly series.

1.30pm until 3pm, gold coin donation with a 'cuppa' afterwards.

25/09/2025

Sunday Series Talk 28th September 2025 World Rail 200 – Geelong Rail 170 years

Rail 200 – Geelong 170.

The Stockton & Darlington Railway in the UK opened on September 27, 1825, 200 years ago. It commenced the rail connection of people, places, communities and ideas that ultimately transformed the world.

The Geelong & Melbourne Railway Company commenced building their railway in 1853 and 170 years ago, on 15 October 1856, the first train for paying passengers ran from Geelong to almost Lara. Trains operated to Little River in early 1857 and the railway was officially opened to its terminus at Greenwich (Newport) on 27 June 1857. 165 years ago, on September 4 1860, ownership of the railway was transferred to the Victorian Government.

Michael Menzies has had a 57 year involvement with railways, commencing at the Belmont Common Railway in Geelong and leading its relocation to Queenscliff and establishment of the Bellarine Railway. He has also spent 55 years working in rail operations, rail heritage and rail tourism projects. He will provide a brief outline of the rail developments of 200 years ago
in the UK and 170 years ago in Geelong.

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This talk is part of the Geelong Museum Association’s monthly ‘Sunday Series’ of talks.

The talk will take place from 1.30 pm until 3 pm on Sunday 28 September in the National Wool Museum, Cnr. Brougham and Moorabool Streets, Geelong.

Afternoon tea will be provided and a gold coin (or better) donation is appreciated.

21/08/2025

Our next Last Sunday history talk will be on Sunday 31 August. !.30pm until 3pm at the National Wool Museum.

The Excursion Paddle Steamers of Port Phillip. The story of these luxurious ships -the Ozone, Hygeia and Weeroona provides an insight into social life of Victorians in this time and development of the coastal towns they visited.

Nayda Kelly's grandfather was a crewman on the Weeroona on its maiden voyage from Glasgow to Melbourne in 1910 and continued to work on board for the next 30 years. Nayda's family history research was pivotal to this story.

Gold Coin Donation. Tea/Coffee and biscuits afterwards

25/07/2025

July Talk Cancelled

Despite our best efforts we were unable to find a speaker for the July talk and we had no alternative than to cancel the July talk.

Next Month

We have a speaker for the August meeting which will be on the steamers on Port Philip.

Sunday 31 August: The Excursion Paddle Steamers of Port Phillip.

From the late 1860’s until 1942, excursion paddle streamers brought thousands of passengers from Melbourne to the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas during summer. The story of these luxurious ships – the Ozone, Hygeia and Weeroona provides an insight into social life of Victorians in this time and the development of the coastal towns they visited.

Nayda. After retiring, Nayda started researching family history as a hobby. During COVID lockdowns in Melbourne. Nayda took this interest to the next level and completed at the online Diploma of Family History course at the University of Tasmania. Nayda’s grandfather was a crewman on the Weerooona. He sailed on its maiden voyage from Glasgow to Melbourne in 1910 and continued to work on board for the next 30 years. Nayda’s family history research was pivotal to this story.

We apologize for this and hope that we will see you at the August talk.

Address

PO Box 1509
Geelong, VIC
3220

Website

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