Come and see a display on the history and heritage of the old Ballan Shire.

A unique look into the early history of Australian football in Meredith and it’s surrounding areas, and it’s immersion within those local communities. Local greats include the first player to play 300 games, Geelong and South Melbourne star Peter “The Great” Burns.

Learn to make beautiful hand made soap using traditional methods & learn to extract essential oil from lush garden plants such as lavender. A gorgeous class that showcases the simple art of soap making & how herbs can be used to create a botanically enriched soap fragrance.

Chestnuts you are delicious! We will forage & prize open burs by stomping our feet like horses. Then score, bake, & create a rich botanical chestnut sauce. Together we will make pappardelle (fresh pasta) & slurp on this simple but delicious lunch, with tiramisu, folk songs & peasant side dishes.

Join magician and historian Dr Jo Clyne and historian Dr David Waldron as they explore through magic Harry Houdini's life and fateful 1910 Australian trip.

As part of the Melton Heritage festival, join award-winning podcaster and musician Simon Reich as he recounts the experiences of post World-War-Two migrants in the Bonegilla Migrant Camp through interviews, video and live music.

To celebrate the launch of the 2024 Heritage Festival, come on down to Melton Library to enjoy a event that's sure to spark your curiosity.
Enjoy live entertainment and get a sneak peek at the exciting line-up of upcoming Heritage Festival events.

The Oddie Lecture recognises the legacy of James Oddie, who was instrumental in the establishment of the Observatory in 1886.

In conjunction with The Mechanics Institute the National Trust Ballarat Branch will run a walking tour, static display and information session. Fabulous photos of historic Ballarat, information about our built heritage and views not always available to the public.

Always been curious about the 165 year-old Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute but stopped short at the door? All are welcome to the ‘secular cathedral’ of the mechanics’ – no not that type of mechanic! Come along to our exhibition and talks to discover what we do and how institutions like ours survive.

This free event is going to display more than 50 items, also this is the first time the City of Ballarat has ever exhibited these collections to public.

From the moment you enter our Antique Fair held in the majestic Art Deco Ballarat Civic Hall you will be amidst the. most beautiful antiques from the Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco and Mid century eras,

This display investigates some of the first catholic priests who worked in the surrounding goldfields and within the western district of Victoria. It explores the formation of the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat and the installation of Bishop Michael O’Connor in 1874 .

With Ballarat’s stunning Victorian architecture as the backdrop the annual festival highlights the city’s golden past and evolving future. Starting May 17th and over the next 10 days experience all there is to offer and immerse yourself in Ballarat. https://ballaratheritagefestival.com.au

The atmospheric Anderson's Mill comes alive with displays of heritage crafts, machinery and historical information. The huge waterwheel turns majestically transporting all who see it back to the days when machinery ran quietly and cannot be heard inside the mill with its thick bluestone walls.

The Hepburn family graves are a private family cemetery, that were once part of a historical pastoral holding called Smeaton Hill Run. The graves are situated close to the original homestead – Smeaton House – which was built by Scottish émigré Captain John Stuart Hepburn. Hepburn died in 1860 and his grave is representative of the style of tomb of the time. The town of Hepburn Springs

Celebrate the 140th anniversary of the formation of Kyneton Fire Brigade at an open day on 11 May 2024. Learn about the history of the Brigade and compare the beaters, buckets and hand pulled carts of 1884 with the massive fire trucks of today.

Stitch in Time, an exhibition looking at craft and folk art history in the Macedon Ranges Shire created in collaboration with the Kyneton Historical Society will be running at Kyneton Museum during the Heritage Festival this year.

An exhibition on loan from the Her Place Museum in Melbourne, on display at the Kyneton Town Hall. The exhibition pays tribute to the nurses and midwives of Australia, with a particular focus on Victoria.

Come see the swaggie in his little hut and see Lara from earliest times to discover life as it was. Our displays are located in an old, restored limestone building formerly the Lara Bank Hotel which sits proudly on the corner of Forest Road and Canterbury Road West in Lara.