Wyndham Museum and Werribee District Historical Society

22/05/2026

Wow, what a whirlwind of a week it’s been here at the Wyndham Museum! 🌪️✨

Here’s a look at what we've been up to:

Monday 🏛️: We started the week on a big stage, giving evidence at a Senate Committee hearing! The work doesn't stop there, either—I'm currently prepping answers for some follow-up questions from Senator Jacqui Lambie.

Tuesday 📸: A fantastic open day packed with visitors! A special shout-out to Les Sanderson from the Little River Historical Society , who kindly gifted us an incredible photo of the infamous 1983 dust storm. It’s already hanging on our walls for you to see!

Wednesday 🚌: We hosted a private visit for the wonderful folks from Werribee Probus . They thoroughly enjoyed exploring our displays and watching our Wyndham Our Living History video series.

Thursday 🎒: Our very own Carolyn and I hit the road! We visited Manor Lakes P-12 College to deliver local history talks to a whopping 165 energetic Grade 3 students. The future of history is in good hands! They had some fantastic questions.

Come see us this weekend! 👇

After such a massive week, we aren't slowing down just yet. The museum is open tomorrow (Saturday) from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Pop in, say hello, and check out our fantastic displays (including that new dust storm photo!). We’d love to see you.

📍 Wyndham Museum
📅 Open Tomorrow: 10am – 1pm

18/05/2026

🏛️ BIG NEWS FOR LOCAL HISTORY! 🏛️

Following the government’s announcement a while back regarding the divestment of defence assets, I made a formal submission to the Senate Inquiry Committee in my capacity as President of the Werribee District Historical Society.

That submission led to an incredible opportunity: I was invited to give evidence at the Senate Inquiry today, advocating passionately for the future of the historic Point Cook RAAF Base . ✈️⏳

Point Cook holds a massive place not just in Wyndham’s history, but in Australia’s military story. Ensuring its legacy is protected for future generations is absolutely vital.

🎧 Listen in to the Inquiry
If you would like to hear the proceedings, the audio recording is now available online. You can listen to the full session to hear all the community submissions, but if you'd like to jump straight to my evidence and the case for Point Cook, tune in from the 1 hour and 45 minute mark (1:45:00)

👉 https://www.youtube.com/live/P6e4saiAnJY?si=HwQvngTifLEFwlqN&fbclid=IwY2xjawR3s65leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR7aG4OKzaRBk8HTGGngFE9CGu90LlgDuary4EwNHGf5a86aPiI3rcjxtWjVZQ_aem_OBJh_-yBlaKnswy95mzolQ

📸 What I Shared
For a quick look at the presentation, I have attached screenshots below of:
* My official written submission 📝
* The 3-minute opening statement I delivered to the Committee today 🎙️
Thank you to everyone in the Wyndham and Werribee communities for your ongoing support as we work to keep our history alive!

17/05/2026

🎥 SNEAK PEEK: A Trip Down Memory Lane with the Cations Family! 🏛️

It was an absolute pleasure welcoming Stan and Peter Cations to the museum today for our latest "Wyndham: Our Living History" interview. Honestly, I could have sat and listened to their incredible stories all day long!

Here is a little taste of what’s coming:

Stan took us back in time, sharing what it was really like growing up living at Werribee Park in the historic little Bluestone cottage. He also filled us in on his working life, marriage, and family. (Check out the cheeky little video snippet below on how he got his licence! 😉)

Peter shared fond memories of growing up in Werribee and living in Wyndham Vale. He also proudly talked about his dad, Allan (Stan’s brother), who played 123 games for the Richmond Tigers! 🐯

We can’t wait to share the full video with you inside the museum in the coming weeks. But for now, we hope you enjoy this exclusive sneak peek!

👇 Watch the snippets below and drop a comment if you have your own memories of the Cations family 👇

16/05/2026

✨ A Week of Stories, Smiles, at Wyndham Museum! ✨

It has been another incredibly busy and productive week around here, and we’ve loved every minute of it.

👥 From Big Crowds to Special Guests
We kicked things off on Tuesday with a fantastic turnout of visitors. The energy didn’t stop there—on Wednesday, we had the absolute pleasure of hosting a private tour for the lovely Wyndham Ladies Friendship group
The ladies spent a wonderful morning exploring our collections. While many came to learn about our local history, we actually did some learning ourselves! A special shout-out to Margaret Hassett who was able to enlighten us on a few historical facts (its why she is part of Wyndham Our Living History project). We love it when our visitors bring history to life!

To wrap up their visit, the group enjoyed morning tea in our Audio/Visual room while watching a couple of fascinating videos from the Wyndham Our Living History series.

📦 Unpacking the Past
Today, we welcomed even more visitors during our normal open hours. In between chats, our team was hard at work unpacking a few more hidden treasures.

Speaking of hidden treasures...

🔍 COOL FACT OF THE WEEK: The Mystery of the Fireplace Signs

Take a look at these two signs! At first glance, they seem to have absolutely nothing to do with Wyndham. But their backstory is pure local gold.
Did you know? These signs were actually found hidden inside a bricked-up fireplace in the old Coombs Bakery on Station Street !

They were discovered in 1973 when the bakery building was being demolished to allow Deneys to expand. Why were they hidden there? What's their real connection? The mystery is half the fun!

👋 Want to uncover more local history? Come visit us during our opening hours, Tuesday 10am to 3pm Saturday 10am to 1pm.
Drop your theories about the Coombs Bakery signs in the comments below!

12/05/2026

🏛️ A Special Visit & New Treasures at Wyndham Museum!
​We had a wonderful day at the museum today, made even better by some very special guests. A huge thank you to Shane, Kerrie, and Lulu (the dog! 🐾) for dropping in!
​It was a treat to host them as they watched Shane’s video interview for our "Wyndham: Our Living History" series. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s now playing in our Audio/Visual room—come and hear some incredible first-hand local history!
​🎁 New to Our Collection
​Shane also kindly brought in some fantastic donations from his time on Council. We are especially excited to receive a framed "No Toxic Dump" T-shirt, a powerful piece of our local community's story.
​☕ Enjoy a Cuppa
​Next time you visit, why not stay a while? We are now set up so you can make yourself a cuppa while you explore the rooms.
​Cost: Just a simple coin donation.
​Vibe: Relaxed, historic, and welcoming.
​🗓️ Visit Us
​Come down and say hello, check out the new donations, and browse our latest exhibits.
​Saturdays: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
​Tuesdays: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
​See you there!
​

08/05/2026

✨ NEW PREMIERE TOMORROW! ✨

​Looking for the perfect Saturday morning activity? Come down to the Wyndham Museum and be the first to see our latest feature!

​🎥 Premiering Tomorrow: "Shane Bourke in Wyndham: Our Living History"

​We are thrilled to debut this special screening in our Audio/Visual room. It’s a fantastic opportunity to sit back, relax, and hear Shane’s unique story and the vital role he has played in our local history.

​Why visit us this Saturday?
​Exclusive Premiere: Be among the first to experience Shane’s story.

​Explore Our Collection: Walk through a treasure trove of items donated by the Wyndham community.

​Free Entry: History should be accessible to everyone—bring the whole family!

​🕒 When: Tomorrow, Saturday
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Where: Wyndham Museum
21 Duncans rd Werribee
🎟 Cost: FREE!

​Come for the premiere, stay for the nostalgia. We can’t wait to share our community’s living history with you! 🏛️📜
​

04/05/2026

🎭 History Comes Alive in Wyndham! 🏛️
​Did you catch 9 News last night? It was fantastic to see the local legend Alaine Beek and Essence Theatre Productions getting the spotlight they deserve!
Clip below for those who missed it.

​If you haven’t seen their production "What Was That?" yet, do yourself a massive favour and book a ticket. It’s a brilliant show—not only is it entertaining, but you’ll walk away having learned some fascinating local history. We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again: we thoroughly enjoyed it!

​🕒 Craving even more history?
​If the news segment left you wanting to dig deeper into our local roots, come and visit us!

​When: Tomorrow (Tuesday)
​Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
​Where: Wyndham Museum

​Did you know?
Our beautiful old Bluestone Manse shares a historical connection with the famous Chirnside family. Come explore the link between our building and the legacy of Werribee Park!

​We can't wait to see you there! 📜
​

01/05/2026

🎙️ Every Voice Tells a Story: The Kendall Family

We are incredibly proud to share a sneak peek of our "Wyndham: Our Living History" project!

History isn’t just found in dusty books—it’s alive in the memories and voices of the people who built our community. We’ve been busy interviewing some truly remarkable locals, capturing the heart and soul of Wyndham.

✨ Now Showing: The Kendall Family

We are thrilled to feature the Kendall family in our Audio/Visual room. Their story is a beautiful thread in the fabric of our town, and it’s now ready for you to experience firsthand.

Whether you’re a lifelong resident or new to the area, these personal accounts offer a unique window into the past that you won't find anywhere else.

🕒 Visit Us Tomorrow!
Come and immerse yourself in these stories. We have several interviews currently playing, with many more exciting ones on the way!
When: Tomorrow
Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Where: Wyndham Museum
See you there! 👋

30/04/2026

We are so happy that St Vincent's Private Hospital Werribee are displaying some of our significant historical sites. And how great their patients have something interesting to look at and learn a little bit about our history.

This afternoon, our Acting General Manager, Warren Fowler, had the pleasure of presenting our Rehab Ward team with a collection of new images to display on their walls.

These thoughtfully selected images reflect the local community and bring a sense of connection, warmth, and familiarity to the ward environment, helping to create a more welcoming and engaging space for patients, visitors, and staff alike.

We extend our sincere thanks to the Wyndham Museum and Werribee District Historical Society for generously providing these wonderful historical images for us to print and frame. Their contribution helps us celebrate and honour the rich heritage of our local area.

28/04/2026

🏛️ What a week at the Wyndham Museum!

​It has been a whirlwind of history, reunions, and a very successful game of "Museum Tetris." Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to:

​🌹 Lest We Forget
​On Saturday, we were honoured to lay a wreath at the ANZAC Day Dawn Service, remembering those who served. We opened our doors immediately after the service to welcome the community for a morning of reflection and shared history.

​🎥 Wyndham: Our Living History
​Even while closed to the public yesterday, the museum was buzzing! Rob McLennan and I had the privilege of interviewing 5-time Mayor Shane Bourke for Wyndham our Living History project. It was a fantastic interview filled with incredible insights. We can’t wait to premiere the footage in our Audio/Visual room once the editing is complete!

​🔍 The Great Encyclopedia Hunt: SOLVED!
​If you’ve heard me mumbling about missing books lately... I can finally sleep at night! After moving mountains of boxes (our ongoing game of Museum Tetris is no joke), we finally located the missing 5 Encyclopedias and Atlas. The set is officially complete! 📚✅

​👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Connections
​We also had a busy day of visitors today, including descendants of the Heath family who traveled from the other side of town to explore their roots. We love seeing local history come alive for the families who lived it.

​📅 Plan your visit!
Want to see what we've found lately? We are open this Saturday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
​See you there!
​

24/04/2026

Honouring the Brave 🇦🇺🇳🇿

​Join us at the Wyndham Museum tomorrow for a morning of reflection and remembrance following the 6:30 AM Dawn Service at the Cenotaph.

​Our doors will open immediately after the service, and entry is free for all. We invite you to spend some time in our audio/visual room, where we will be screening historical footage—including the scenes of WWII soldiers marching seen in this post—as we pay tribute to those who served.

​A Living Remembrance

​"Each has won a glorious grave - not that sepulchre of earth wherein they lie, but the living tomb of everlasting remembrance wherein their glory is enshrined.
​For the whole earth is the sepulchre of heroes. Monuments may rise and tablets be set up to them in their own land, but on far-off shores there is an abiding memorial that no pen or chisel has traced; it is graven not on stone or brass, but on the living hearts of humanity.
​Take these men for your example. Like them, remember that prosperity can be only for the free, that freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it."
​— Pericles

​Lest We Forget.

​📍 Location: Wyndham Museum
⏰ Time: Directly following the Dawn Service
🎟️ Admission: Free

​Footage credit: WW2 soldiers, Circa 1939. Exact location unknown. AWM
​