Port Fairy Historical Society

The Port Fairy Historical Society preserves, records and exhibits the history of Port Fairy and District including its known Indigenous history and settlement, European .history and settlement, rural and urban development, cultural activities, natural history and the built environment from its beginnings to the present day. The Society educates, informs and offers an understanding of the town of Port Fairy and its people, past and present. 

The Port Fairy Historical Society holds records of pioneering families, early industry, businesses, festivals and events and buildings. From its inception until the purchase of its first home at 24 Bank Street, the Society met in many places including private homes,  the Glaxo Social Club rooms, The Angling Club, Belfast Shire Offices, The Mechanics Institute and the Consolidated School. 

The Port Fairy Historical Society was formed in 1963 as a centre for local research into the early history of the town and its pioneer families. In 1977 the Society opened the Port Fairy History  Museum, at 24 Bank Street,  which became the first home of the Society.  In 1992 the Society moved to its current premises at 30 Gipps Street with a 50-year lease from Moyne Shire on the building. From modest beginnings, the organisation has grown to a membership of more than 100, with a much wider range of interests. 

The Society is run by an active group of volunteers and welcomes members to our working parties.  Volunteer groups contribute to preserving, displaying and disseminating the history of Port Fairy through answering research requests, hosting exhibits, educational programs and publications based on the Society’s collections. We maintain a research library of past and current literature on the history of Port Fairy and District. The Society publishes a regular newsletter which contains articles on topics of local interest, historical and heritage matters, research reports and information about exhibitions and events held by the Society. 

The Society meets on a regular basis for meetings and events at the Museum and Archives centre. The venue for meetings is the Museum and Archives centre  in the old courthouse at 30 Gipps Street, Port Fairy.

Meetings:

Annual General Meeting second Tuesday  in February.

General Meetings: This year will be replaced by events such as Guest Speakers and walking history tours most will be held on  a Sunday afternoon. Please check EVENTS page for more information.

Committee Meetings: At least four meetings per year, January, March, August and December.

Extraordinary Meetings: Date and times at the discretion of Port Fairy Historical Society Committee.