Bellarine Historical Society

The Bellarine Historical Society Inc.
on the Bellarine Peninsula, Victoria, Australia
ABN : 32 278 055 160

Calendar
Research Centre
Consolidated Index
Holdings
Publications
Forms
Sponsors

Bellarine Historical Society Inc.


Townships / areas covered	How to find or contact us	Opening Hours
How to join	Research Requests	Genealogy & Other Links

About the Bellarine Historical Society

Bellarine Historical Society : Old Court House Museum, High Street, Drysdale, 1997.

The Bellarine Historical Society is a non-profit making organisation staffed by volunteers with a keen interest in preserving the history of the Bellarine Peninsula. To achieve our objectives, the Society relies on the support of our volunteers, members, grants and sponsors ... we are indebted to them all.

The Society celebrated its 25th anniversary in June 2001 .....

A Public Meeting was held at the Municipal Office, Drysdale, on Friday 11th June 1976 to consider the formation of an Historical Society in the Shire of Bellarine.

The Shire of Bellarine has since been absorbed into the Greater City of Geelong, but the Bellarine Historical Society has continued to grow since that first public meeting which was attended by about 60 people.

At the first meeting of the Bellarine Historical Society on 9th July 1976, Mr W. Nairn was elected president.

Meetings were held in the Drysdale Senior Citizen’s Club Rooms in the Old Court House - this was used for Historical Society meetings and special displays.

At the Society’s meeting in August 1977, an official announcement from the Shire confirmed the future home of the Society : “that the Bellarine Historical Society be granted the full and exclusive use of the Court House ...”.

The Old Court House at Drysdale provided an ideal central location for the Bellarine Peninsula as well as a picturesque historical building for the Society’s displays and repositories.

Unfortunately, some people have thought that the society was for the town of Drysdale, however the list of townships below clearly shows the number of places covered by the Bellarine Historical Society.

A small section of the display area in the Old Court House Museum, 1997.

The Society continues to grow and expand its collection of records for the family and local history researcher.

Townships / areas covered by the Society

Although the museum and Society's rooms are located in the old Court House in Drysdale, the Bellarine Historical Society covers the Bellarine Peninsula east of Geelong. The main townships in our area are :

Barwon Heads	Bellarine	Bellarine Peninsula & Shire	Clifton Springs
Curlewis	Drysdale	Indented Head	Kensington (now Leopold)
Leopold	Mannerim	Marcus Hill	Moolap
Murradoc	Newcomb	Newington	Ocean Grove
Point Henry	Point Lonsdale	Portarlington	Queenscliff
St Albans (now Whittington)	St Leonards	Wallington	Whittington

Select any highlighted town to read about its history and follow other historical links or sites relating to that town, or go to the Bellarine History Links to select individual topics.

How to find or contact us

The Bellarine Historical Society and Museum are located in the old Court House, High Street, Drysdale.

Visit us : we are at Melways Ref : Map 238 F9. (Melway : Greater Melbourne Street Directory used by most Victorians!) Check out the Opening Hours below. If you are planning a trip during a period when we are closed, please contact us in advance to see if we can make special arrangements.

Write to us : Bellarine Historical Society, PO Box 53, Drysdale, Vic, Australia 3222

Email us : Contact our Publicity Officer.

Opening Hours

Summer Opening Hours (1st weekend in January to last weekend in April)	Every Sunday : 1.30 pm - 4.30 pm
Winter Opening Hours (May to December)	1st Sunday of each month 1.30 pm - 4.30 pm
Special Opening Hours	The Museum and Historical Society opens on different dates in conjunction with special displays or event. We will also attempt to accommodate groups or out-of-town visitors if they contact us in advance to arrange a special time.

Research Requests

For those of you who are unable to visit our premises at Drysdale for your research, you can mail your request to us at :

Bellarine Historical Society Inc.
Research Officer
PO Box 53
Drysdale, Vic 3222
Australia

	All requests for research must include a business size Stamped Self Addressed Envelope.
	Basic searches are AUD $16.50 (inc. GST) which includes up to 5 A4 size photocopies / printouts. You will be notified of the cost for additional photocopies or out of pocket expenses.
	You will be notified of the fee for longer searches based on your request for information.
	Any extra donations are welcome! and of course information to add to our holdings is always gratefully received.
	Research Request Forms can be downloaded and printed from our Forms page. It is strongly recommended that you use these forms to ensure that we find the right person and don't provide you with information you already have.

Our society researchers will reply to your request as soon as possible, but please be patient as we have no full-time staff and we rely totally on our volunteers.

Become a Member
of the Historical Society

If you would like to become a Member of the Bellarine Historical Society, the Annual Subscription cost is $16.50 (including GST).

Please forward a cheque or money order to : Hon. Treasurer, Bellarine Historical Society, PO Box 53, Drysdale, Vic 3222.

Please include the following information :

	Surname
	Given Name
	Address
	Phone
	Names being researched

Created by : Susie Zada
� 1996 Susie Zada, Ocean Grove, Victoria, Australia
Last revised : May 04, 2005.
Email : szada@zades.com.au