Museum | Research Centre

Mission Statement
To collect, preserve, display and disseminate historical material relevant to Australia's past generally and to North Eastern NSW in particular.

What we do
The Richmond River Historical Society consists entirely of volunteers who maintain, develop, interpret and promote the collections of the Museum and the Research Centre.Read our Newsletter for the latest information on what is happening in the Society.

Volunteers
The Society welcomes volunteers. If you would like to apply to become a volunteer, please print out and complete a Membership Form and a Volunteer Form, and send to the address indicated on the forms.

Membership
Go to our Membership page for details of how to join the Society, benefits of membership, and fees.

Founding
The Richmond River Historical Society Inc. (RRHS), founded on 1 April 1936, was one of the first three historical societies formed in New South Wales outside the Sydney region. After going into recess during World War II, it was reconstituted in 1953.

District
The district served by the Society is the Richmond region, extending from the head of the river at Woodenbong and extending to the mouth at Ballina. It covers the Big Scrub east of Lismore, National Parks, grazing and farming country, as well as cities, towns and villages with a population of 140 000. See District Map.

Site
The Museum and Research Centre is housed in the old Lismore Municipal Building in premises provided by Lismore City Council. See map showing location.

Holdings
The Society's holdings show the evolution of the Richmond River area and its peoples from the arrival of the Bundjalung people some 6,000 years ago, through the explorations of Captain Henry Rous in 1828, to subsequent white settlement and changing patterns of society and industry leading to our present multicultural society.

Information
Information on individuals, events and places connected with various groups of people can be viewed and studied at the Museum and the Research Centre. The comprehensive collection of material of cultural significance reveals the origins and emerging identity of the residents of the valley.

Opening Hours
For Museum opening hours, see our Museum page, and for Research Centre opening hours, see our Research Centre page.

Location of Richmond River District