Queenscliffe Historical Museum

24/04/2026

On this ANZAC Day, we pause to remember not only those who served, but the communities that carried the weight of war at home.

The Caithness family is one such story , a local family whose lives were deeply shaped by the First World War. Like many across the Bellarine, their names and memories live on through the Avenue of Honour, where trees were planted as living tributes to those who served, each one a quiet witness to sacrifice and resilience.

At the time, figures like Lord Kitchener called upon nations to enlist, and communities like Queenscliff and the Borough of the Bellerine answered. Their contributions were carefully recorded in the Roll of Honour, preserving the names of local men and women who stepped forward in a time of uncertainty.

War was not only fought on distant shores. Here at home, people gave what they could , supporting efforts such as the Belgian Relief Fund, raising money for those displaced and suffering in Europe.

Today, we hold pieces of these stories in our collection: a delicate wartime scarf, a soldier’s cigarette box, and a humble collection tin for the Belgian Fund. These objects, simple yet profound, carry the traces of lives lived through extraordinary times.

They remind us that history is not distant , it is held in the hands, worn close to the body, and shared across generations.

Lest we forget.

21/04/2026

All welcome at our Monthly Talk on Friday 24 April.

20/03/2026

QHM MONTHLY TALK FOR MARCH
'Gibraltar of the South: Fortress at The Heads, Fort Queenscliff defending Port Phillip 1870 to WW2'

Dr Bob Marmion and Andrew Dagg are presenting a talk on their book next Friday 27 March from 10.30 am to 12 pm, at the Community Hall, Bowen Road, Point Lonsdale.
Come along to hear the second QHM Monthly Talk for 2026 season.
Morning tea at 10.30 and the talk starts at 11
https://youtu.be/Fpyl1wtcow4

07/03/2026

International Women’s Day, Remembering Henrietta Dugdale

Queenscliff resident, Henrietta Dugdale (1827–1918) was one of Australia’s earliest and most influential advocates for women’s rights. In 1884 she founded the Victorian Women’s Suffrage Society, the first organisation in Australia dedicated to campaigning for women’s right to vote ,a movement that helped pave the way for women to gain the vote in 1902.

At the Queenscliffe Historical Museum, we preserve and share stories of remarkable figures like Henrietta Dugdale. Our collection includes information about her life and work, and we also have books available in the museum shop for those who would like to learn more about her legacy and contribution to Australian history.

To honour her memory, a gathering will be held at Henrietta Dugdale’s graveside in Point Lonsdale on Sunday 8 March at 10:30 am, where the community will come together to remember this pioneering woman.

07/03/2026

Celebrate International Women's Day tomorrow (Sunday 8 March) by joining some of our members at the gravesite of Henrietta Dugdale, an early activist for women’s rights.
Henrietta was born in London in 1827 and became a resident of Queenscliff in 1853.
We will meet for about 15 minutes at –
 Henrietta's gravesite at 10.30 am on Sunday 8 March at the
 Queenscliff Cemetery, 189 Point Lonsdale Road, Point Lonsdale.
Enter through the gate closest to Williams Road and Henrietta’s grave is about 100 metres on the left along this pathway.

If possible, please wear green, white or purple (or all three) and bring some flowers from your garden.

17/02/2026

Queenscliffe Historical Museum Monthly Talk

In support of the Harbour to Horizon Maritime Festival (1–9 March), we’re proud to present a special talk celebrating 50 years of Coast Guard Queenscliff.

Operating in one of Australia’s most treacherous stretches of water — including the Rip — the all-volunteer Coast Guard has seen rescues double in the past decade to nearly 100 call-outs a year. These are the waters of powerful tides, unpredictable swells and historic shipwrecks.

Join Ric Lasslett (over 40 years in emergency services and 141 rescues with Coast Guard Queenscliff) and Michael Donohue, former Flotilla Commander, as they share stories from the frontline of our coastline.

Friday 27 February 2026
Light refreshments 10.30am Talk 11.00am–12.00pm

Community Hall, Bowen Rd, Point Lonsdale
$5 Members (QHM & National Trust) | $10 Non-Members

Cash or card on the day or book via the link in comments.

Youtube video link in comments.
Come along and honour the volunteers who have protected our maritime community for half a century.

17/02/2026

13/02/2026

This Valentine’s Day, we are sharing pieces from our lingerie collection dating from the early 1910s to the 1940s.
Delicate lace trims, fine cotton and silks, hand stitched details of these garments tell quiet stories of romance, courtship and changing times in Queenscliff.
Preserved with care, they remind us that love has always lived in the details .

08/01/2026

Saturday 10 January is the annual Cottage by the Sea Fair, held each year in Queenscliff, a much-loved community tradition with a long and meaningful history.

At the Queenscliff Historical Museum, we care for some of the most touching objects connected to this story: 36 hand-embroidered white cotton bedspreads, made between 1905 and 1966 by women’s auxiliaries across Victoria in support of Cottage by the Sea.
Opened in 1895, Cottage by the Sea was part of a worldwide movement to care for children in need. Today, the Queenscliff Cottage is the last remaining of its kind. These bedspreads, carefully preserved and archived, carry stitched names, symbols, and generosity, reminding us how deeply this place has been supported by the community over generations.