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Tinonee Historical Society Just a short distance from Taree is the beautiful and historic village of Tinonee. Several members of the Tinonee Historical Society Inc, Jenny Cherry – President, Pamela Muxlow – Secretary, Janette Hayden – Treasurer share a little of the history of the area. It’s well worth taking the drive to visit the village and also to drop in to the local museum ...
lease share a little bit of background information about the Tinonee Historical Society – when was it formed, and what are the society’s aims? Tinonee Historical Society was incorporated in 2003. Before this, we were a part of Tinonee Town and Parish Chapter of Manning Valley Historical Society. We are a wholly volunteer organisation with members enthusiastically giving their time and hard work to make this museum and its grounds something to be proud of for the community. We aim to preserve, conserve and collect artefacts and family history in the Tinonee, Hillville, Mondrook, Kiwarrak Forest and its environs for the benefit of the community. When was the museum at Tinonee established, and where is it currently located? The museum was established in 2003, and is situated at 32 Manchester Street, Tinonee. The newly formed society had members pushing to have a Museum in Tinonee; this was helped along by a former resident of Tinonee, Mrs Carolyn Fazio, now living in the USA, who purchased a building at 32 Manchester Street, Tinonee in 2002 for the society to use as a Museum. This building was a former broom factory in the 1940s − the fourth and last one to operate in Tinonee. In 2003 members came together to transform this building into what it is today, including help from volunteers workers from Mission Australia and Wesley Uniting Employment over
the years. The Society celebrated its 10th birthday in September this year with a garden party in the Museum grounds and visitors from Tinonee and away. What are some of the displays people can view at the museum? The Museum displays include a boating room with stories about the Manning River and boats built in Tinonee in the early years. There’s a display from the former ‘Terrace Cinema Tinonee’, including the projector, dating back to the 1930s, and cinema seating, and movie posters display. A commerce room with part display of the ‘Chapman’s Emporium’, showcases containing War time and Red Cross displays; this includes a ‘Flag Dress’, which is included on the Australian Dress Register as a significant item in our museum. And there’s also a children’s bedroom and lounge room/parlour. The museum has a collection of photographs and portraits of local pioneers, and our archival cupboard contains a quantity of written family histories. The museum has a small shop in our boating room selling souvenirs, history books and handmade crafts. The grounds of the museum also include our heritage garden containing flowers as well as vegetables, which is watered from our rainwater tank received under a Federal Govt. grant. What days/hours is the museum open? The Museum opening hours are: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10am - 2pm, and Saturday 12.30 – 3.30pm. Visitations by appointment also. What is the admission charge? The
admission is $3 per person, children $1, family $7.
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Tinonee streetscape contains our local hall, Apart from looking after the museum, which is over 100 years old, plus the Tinonee what are some of the other events/ Cottages, the primary school, which opened activities the society organises? Do in 1859 and continues to grow in strength you regularly hold fundraisers or host and has one of the best views overlooking the outings for members? The society members Manning River. organise garage sales and Bunnings The former Police Station/Courthouse BBQs several times a year. We which is across the street from are continually seeking the museum is currently grant funding to assist undergoing restoration with improvements e and was built in the late th of s nd The grou of the museum e ud cl in 1890s. The museum also so al m museu infrastructure. The en has the original gaol rd ga ge our herita members regularly well as s er w lockup and the Police flo ng ni contai attend workshops hich is w , es stables, which have bl ta ge ve as r rainwater as part of the recently been rebuilt, watered from ou r a de Mid North Coast and also the recently tank received un t.” an Chapter of Museums restored Boom gate and Federal G ovt. gr Australia, and we are pulley wheel from the affiliated with the Royal Tinonee Punt. Australian Historical Society. Is the society actively seeking Members attend other local new members and if so, how do museums’ exhibitions and functions. people go about joining? The Museum Society members are representatives on is always looking for new volunteer members, the Greater Taree City Council Strategic who are welcome to contact the Museum Heritage Advisory Committee, who meet biduring opening hours. monthly. Membership fees are $10 per year per person One would assume members of the and the financial year is from the 1 June - 31 society are generally history buffs ... May. Age is no restriction, but a love of history so what’s a little-known or surprising is a help. historical fact about Tinonee you can What are the contact details for the share? Just up the river from Tinonee is museum? Members can be contacted via Mondrook, which was the home of 1881 phone on 6553 1571, email Tinonee_ Melbourne Cup winner, Zulu, and his remains museum@hotmail.com or our website www. are buried in the area. There is a lane now tinoneemuseum.org.au named after him − Zulu Lane. In wartime Thanks ladies. there was also an airstrip at Mondrook where
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