THE Hamilton History Centre is proud to announce they are holding a series of events for the National Trust Hertiage Festival.

The Heritage Festival is a community-driven celebration of history and heritage and has been running from April 18 to end on May 18, 2024.

Hamilton History Centre’s contribution to the Heritage Festival is called ‘Pubs, Hats and Treasures’.

Included are the following:

•  A historical ‘Pub Crawl’ walking tour of Hamilton’s present and former hotels. Learn about the seventeen hotels Hamilton has had since 1843 and what became of them. The tour starts at 10am at the History Centre.

•   The book launch for the History Centre’s latest publication ‘Hamilton’s History Photographs and Stories 1840s to 1880s’ by Marlene Greiner.

The book will be launched at 11.30am (after the return of the walking tour), by respected local historian, Merron Riddiford of the Western District Families website and the popular I’ve Lived in Hamilton Facebook page.

The book contains a collection of photographs taken in Hamilton during the 1870s of buildings, streetscapes and landscapes; each photo is accompanied by stories about the subject or someone associated with it.

This information is sourced from memoirs (some never before published), obituaries and contemporary newspaper articles.

It tells the stories behind the images, from that time and earlier, by the people who were there.

The book also contains maps of photographic locations and a comprehensive index.

•  An exhibition, newly arrived at the History Centre, of the remarkable hat collection of Hamilton’s first female mayor, Frances Hewett.

Mrs Hewett was practically an institution in Hamilton from the 1950s through to the 1980s, not just for her long years of service for Hamilton, but also for the hats she wore.

•  An exhibition of items found locally by metal detectorists.

This fascinating collection, from coins to toys and everything in between, gives us a window into the past via the everyday items lost by everyday people. Can you work out what all the items are?

•  An exhibition of old bottles from Hamilton area manufacturers. Find out about the many different Hamilton businesses that produced liquid refreshments from examples of their distinctive and historic bottles. A joint exhibition between the History Centre and a local bottle collector.  

The exhibitions will be open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, May 18 at the History Centre at 43 Gray Street.

Entry to the History Centre and the walking tour are free and open to all.

The ‘Pub Crawl’ booklet of information and photos will be available for $5 and ‘Hamilton’s History Photographs and Stories 1840s to 1880s’ will be selling for $20.

All sorts of institutions and community groups throughout Victoria will be offering a diverse range of exhibitions, tours, talks, workshops and more. Information about the National Trust Heritage Festival can be found on their website at nationaltrust.org.au/ahf/vic