Formed in 1978 the BDGS aims to help people discover their family history, with an emphasis on Ballarat and district sources. The society holds a comprehensive genealogical reference library relating to the usual sources, but specialising in Ballarat. Monthly meetings are held with speakers on family history research topics.
The Ballarat Historical Society Inc is based at the Gold Museum, Ballarat. The Society’s collections are housed at the Gold Museum and Ballarat Library. The Society meet’s monthly and is focused on collecting and preserving the photographic and social history of Ballarat.
Suburbs or towns: Ballarat


Ballarat Astronomical Society is custodian of the Ballarat Municipal Observatory. BAS provides Friday and Saturday night viewing if the weather is clear. School and other groups can be booked for Monday to Thursday.



The Society promotes the study, collection and preservation of the history, heritage and environment of Buninyong and the surrounding district.
Image: ‘Buninyong Town Hall, home of the Buninyong and District Historical Society’.

Local and family historuies, display of family photos and antiques.
Collecting records from the past including photographs. Guest speakers, help with family research and annual Australia Day celebrations, which include unveiling of heritage plaques recognising the local families who made the district what it is today.


Keeping track of historical events in Creswick and district. Creswick Historical Museum is housed in the former offices of the Shire of Creswick, a magnificent National Trust classified building of two storeys, with a tower and clock circa 1876. The interior of the building is notable for its classic winding staircase of local Basalt, its balcony, anf the 19th century architectural features. A wide range of printed historical material is available for sale at the museum. The Museum operation is directed to not only providing a comprehensive and fascinating display, but also providing a vast resource of available information to the community at large.


The historical society is dedicated to keep an accurate record of the district since settlement.

The Society holdings include over 3,000 photographs, cemetery, school, church and Shire of Grenville records, Grenville Standard newspapers. The Society forms the Committee of Management for the 1874 Linton Library/Mechanics Institute.



Ballan Shire Historical Society Inc aims to collect, record and preserve the history of the people, places and events of the former Shire of Ballan, including Ballan, Gordon, Egerton, Mt Wallace, Fiskville, Blakeville, Colbrook, Morrisons and Ingliston.
The Daylesford & District Historical Society was formed in 1964 and the Museum established in 1971.
The Museum has approximately 800 square metres of interior displays and approximately 250 square metres of covered yard and houses an large collection of local memorabilia and artefacts.
The museum has extensive archival resources that are accessible by arrangement for research to researchers and genealogists.
Friends of Cornish Hill are a Landcare group. Our connection with RHSV goes back to the day when Cornish Hill Reserve was saved from sale by members of the local community who realised the value of the Reserve as being historically and environmentally significant.
The Friends have been beavering away restoring the Smiths creek corridor to bring it back to what it looked like before mining ravaged the landscape.
Image: Friends of Cornish Hill working bee in June 2018