Cultural Collection

Glenelg Shire Council is custodian of over 10,000 items valued at over $6 million and manages the presentation and preservation of this treasured cultural collection on behalf of the community.
Under the ARTefacts banner, exhibitions of the collection help to facilitate ongoing understanding of and connection to the region’s history, environment and people.
The unique collection contains quirky objects, photographs and records relating to the social, maritime and civic history of the Shire, some of which are of state-wide and national significance.
We encourage you to visit the wondrous curated features of the Cultural Collection on regular display at many places and spaces in the Shire.

History House, Portland
The museum display documents the European settlement of Portland from 1834 covering such themes as the original inhabitants, discovery, settlement, surveying the town, immigration, the Henty family, Mary MacKillop, defending Portland, and significant events in the region’s history. Centrepiece of the museum is Edward Henty’s plough which was used to turn the first sod of soil in Victoria in 1834. The display also includes changing thematic displays drawn from the Cultural Collection and other local public and private collections.
History House
Cliff Street, Portland
Open daily 10.00am – 12.00 noon, 1.00pm – 4.00pm
except Good Friday and Christmas Day
Admission: Adult $3.00
Pensioner/Child/Student $2.00
School groups 50c per student

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A range of documents are available for download in the links below.

The South West Guns and Cannon Brochure will also be available in due course.

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The medals and medallions in this display recognise special events, individual achievements, and commemorations, while the badges include fundraising and charity pins; community organisations, social and sporting clubs memberships; and acknowledgement of special events. Highlights of the display include medals from the Portland Industrial and Art Loan Exhibition of 1889.

History House, Portland
Cliff Street, Portland

6 March 2017 - 25 February 2018
Open daily 10.00am – 12.00noon and 1.00pm – 4.00pm
(except Good Friday & Christmas Day)
Adult $3.00
Concession $2.00
School groups 50c per student

Over the years Glenelg Shire Council has amassed a small collection of trophies, awards and other presentation pieces. Some have been presented directly to Council in recognition of an achievement, whilst others have come into the Cultural collection through donation from an individual or organisation. The display includes: the 1931-32 Guardian Cup; the J. G. Murrell Memorial Shield; and various trophies won by the Portland Pipe Band.

Portland Customer Service Centre
23 January 2018 – 22 February 2019
71 Cliff Street, Portland
Open week days 8.30am – 5.00pm
(Closed public holidays)
Admission Free

Since the late 19th century Portland has been a summer destination for holiday makers seeking relief from the inland heat. To promote the town and provide a memento of those summer memories, souvenirs of Portland began to be mass produced in the 1920s. This display of vintage souvenirs includes china, view ware, tea spoons and other quirky keepsakes produced between the 1920s and the 1980s.

History House - Cliff Street, Portland
8 May 2018 – 15 March 2019
10.00am – 12.00noon and 1.00pm – 4.00pm
(except Good Friday and Christmas Day
Adult $3.00
Concession $2.00
School groups 50c per student

Casterton P&A Society celebrated its 150th Casterton Show in November 2018. This display of photographs, sashes, trophies, ephemera and show-related memorabilia has been curated with the generous assistance of the Casterton and District Historical Society, Casterton P&A Society, and local Show stalwarts Ross and Dawn Davidson.

Casterton Customer Service Centre
67 Henty Street, Casterton
Until 29 March 2019
Open week days 9.00am – 5.00pm & Saturdays 10.00am – 1.00pm
(Closed public holidays)
Admission Free

The role of Town Crier was created for Syd Cuffe in 1983 in the lead up to Portland’s 150th anniversary celebrations. In 1985 Syd was named Citizen of the Year in recognition of his contribution to Portland’s 150th celebrations. He continued as an ambassador for Portland, and later the Glenelg Shire, for 30 years. Dressed in his magnificent costumes, he was a regular fixture at civic and community events. This display includes a selection of items donated by Syd’s estate after his death in 2013.

History House - Cliff Street, Portland
Until 14 July 2019
10.00am – 12.00noon and 1.00pm – 4.00pm
(except Good Friday and Christmas Day
Adult $3.00
Concession $2.00
School groups 50c per student

Almost everyone’s grandmother had a china cabinet or crystal cabinet – a place to proudly display the treasures amassed over a lifetime. The display cabinets in the Portland Customer Service Centre will be transformed into Grandma’s China Cabinet with this display of china, glassware and mementos including hotel-ware from the Mac’s and Gordon Hotels, 19th century domestic crockery, and commemorative plates, glasses, mugs and tankards.

Portland Customer Service Centre
26 February 2019 – 24 January 2020
71 Cliff Street, Portland
Open week days 8.30am – 5.00pm
(Closed public holidays)
Admission Free

A term not generally used these days, a ‘glory box’ or ‘hope chest’ was a storage box or cupboard containing items saved by a single woman in preparation for her wedding or married life. It might include household items, linen and manchester, or special items of clothing. Focusing on the finer crafts of yesteryear, this display includes finely embroidered, stitched, knitted and sewn household items and articles of clothing.

History House - Cliff Street, Portland
19 March – 25 October 2019
10.00am – 12.00noon and 1.00pm – 4.00pm
(except Good Friday and Christmas Day)
Adult $3.00
Concession $2.00
School groups 50c per student

2019 marks the centenary of Casterton’s RSL. Highlighting some of the unique and fascinating items collected by the Casterton branch of the Returned Soldiers League over the past century, this commemorative display has been curated by Bec Mace, Secretary of the Casterton RSL. Included are stories of local involvement in conflict abroad, and the efforts of those on the home front.

Casterton Customer Service Centre
2 April 2019 – 8 November 2019
67 Henty Street, Casterton
Open week days 9.00am – 5.00pm & Saturdays 10.00am – 1.00pm
(Closed public holidays)
Admission Free

Bert Vivian (1893-1974) was a second generation Portland saddler. His father William had operated a saddlery in Rosebery in the Victorian Mallee before relocating to Portland in the late 19th century. Bert began work as a saddler at W. H. Vivian, at 58-60 Percy Street Portland, continuing in the business after his father’s death in 1928. The exhibition includes saddlery and leatherwork tools, photographs and other items belonging to Bert Vivian. These items were donated to the Cultural Collection by Bert’s daughter, Miss Betty Vivian, in 2012.

History House - Cliff Street, Portland
16 July 2019 – 20 March 2020
10.00am – 12.00noon and 1.00pm – 4.00pm
(except Good Friday and Christmas Day)
Adult $3.00
Concession $2.00

On a national tour from the Australian National Maritime Museum, this pull-up banner display has been curated by maritime heritage organisations across the country. Focussing on 14 shipwrecks of national, regional and local significance, the display includes the story of the wreck of the SS Admella off Carpenter Rocks in S.A. in August 1859. Eighty-nine people perished in this maritime disaster, and the survivors were rescued by the Portland lifeboat crew.

Portland Library Branch
23 September – 2 November 2019
32 Bentinck Street, Portland
Open Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 10.00am – 5.30pm;
Wednesday 10.00am – 7.00pm; Saturday 10.00am – 4.00pm
Admission Free