FIRST SUNDAY FREE

28 May 2023

First Sunday Free is back! Visit for free on the first Sunday of the month between 11am and 2pm during June to September. Explore, discover and learn about Port Macquarie's rich and unique history through our themed exhibitions illustrated with objects, artworks and photographs from our collection.

CELEBRATING OUR VOLUNTEERS

16 May 2023

Today we celebrated National Volunteer Week with a thank you lunch for all our hard working and dedicated volunteers. Our volunteers contribute over 21,000 hours each year to our operations. Without them we could not preserve, document or share our local history and heritage. A big thank you to each and every one of them!

INTRODUCING PAST PORT TOOL KIT

10 May 2023

Introducing PAST PORT a toolkit for teachers. This online and downloadable resource provides suggested classroom and offsite activities to support specific learning outcomes for students in Stages 1, 2 and 3 within the K-10 History concept and skills continuum of the NSW HSIE Syllabus.

PAST PORT Print Brochure PAST PORT Online

WE'RE RECRUITING

15 April 2023

Our MNC Regional Digitisation Hub is looking for a Digitisation/Training Officer to help us support, assist and train museum volunteers in creating high quality digital records of collection items using a range of photographic/imaging equipment and associated software. Five month fulltime contract. Expressions of Interest close 28 April 2023.

MASKED MESSAGES

1 February 2023

We kicked off the the NSW Seniors Festival with free mask making workshops today. Participants were led by artist Lisa Hort to make masks for the Masked Messages exhibition. If you missed out, make a mask at home by following the attached instructions, drop off at the Museum and we will add it to the exhibition.

Masked messages is a NSW Seniors Festival event proudly supported by the NSW Government.

Mask Instructions

MNC REGIONAL DIGITISATION HUB

25 January 2023

Excited today to have the Premier of NSW, Dominic Perrottet and Leslie Williams, Member for Port Macquarie visit to announce State Government funding for our MNC Regional Digitisation Hub. We are looking forward to working with our partner museums across the region on this transformational project.

Photo credit: Mardi Borg, Port Macquarie News.

IMAGinE AWARDS HIGHLY COMMENDED

24 November 2022

New Journeys Broad Horizons was awarded a Highly Commended in the Museums and Galleries NSW IMAGinE Awards (Engagement Projects 2 or less paid staff). The project has helped us to engage with new audiences, particularly young people interested in creative and visual arts. It has broadened our audiences, increased participation, extended reach and developed new interest in exhibitions and collections.

This project was supported by Create NSW’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program.

PUBLICATION WINS AWARD

18 October 2022

Port Macquarie's First Convicts has won its author, Clive Smith, a Mander Jones Award from the Australian Society of Archivists. The award was for the best publication by an individual that uses, features or interprets Australian archives.

The publication was supported by Create NSW Cultural Grants Program, a devolved funding program administered by the Royal Australian Historical Society on behalf of the NSW Government.

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CREATIVE CURIOSITY WORKSHOPS

26 September 2022

Port Macquarie U3A Textile and Fibre artists were exploring new art techniques and media at a workshop today led by Vivianne Hazenveld. The series of workshops are developing artist skills and creativity to inform a new collaborative exhibition 'Curiosity' for next year's Seniors Festival. Today, artist's took a colour adventure using acrylic paints on canvas.

The Creative Curiosity workshops are supported by Arts Mid North Coast through the NSW Government's Country Arts Support Program

CREATIVE HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS

25 September 2022

Paint spinning, who knew! Thanks to artist Lucy Frost from Art Local and all our enthusiastic creative participants these past two days. There were some amazing fabric printing, paint spinning, drawing and even some new Hello Koala sculpture designs.

A big thank you to the support from Charles Sturt University's Community University Partnerships (CUP) Program which made this artist in residence program possible.

TO BE WORKED IN IRONS LAUNCHED

29 August 2022

Our latest publication To Be Worked In Irons - Stories from the Port Macquarie Bench Books by Tony Dawson and Heather Aynsley was launched this morning.

The publication has been supported by Create NSW Cultural Grants Program, a devolved funding program administered by the Royal Australian Historical Society on behalf of the NSW Government.

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SCHOOL TOURS & RESOURCES

30 July 2022

Our new online tour booking form is now live and ready to use on our Visit page. This is where you will also find the latest information and resources for school visits.

Our website expansion and e-commerce project was funded by the Australian Government's Culture, Heritage and Arts Regional Tourism Program.

Booking Form Visit

ONLINE STORE NOW OPEN

27 July 2022

We are pleased to announce that our online store is now open. You can shop with us any time of the day or night. New publications will be added in coming weeks.

Our website expansion and e-commerce project was funded by the Australian Government's Culture, Heritage and Arts Regional Tourism Program.

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CELEBRATING NSW SENIORS FESTIVAL

26 March 2022

Today we hosted the launch of the Fifth Season film an initiative of the Greater Port Macquarie Dementia Friendly Community Alliance produced with the support of the Dementia Australia Community Engagement Program. The film highlights the positive and negative experiences of people living with dementia during isolation through the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and records their unique stories for future generations. The film screens until 2 April 2022. Free entry for seniors all week.

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NEW JOURNEYS BROAD HORIZONS

25 March 2022

A new exhibition by Port Macquarie creative Lucy Frost was launched this evening. Lucy has responded to five items from the collection bringing their stories to life in the 21st century. The interactive exhibition considers both the journeys of the objects and Lucy’s personal journey. Lucy’s works and the original items are on display. This project is supported by Create NSW’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program.

ANNABELLA'S ARTWORKS GO DIGITAL

24 January 2022

Thanks to artist Mic Rees some of Annabella Boswell’s artworks and archives have been reimagined digitally into a new exhibition at our Museum and online. Mic was drawn to Annabella’s beautiful sketches and watercolour paintings and chose 7 artworks to retell in animation. This project is part of Museums and Galleries of NSW’s Let’s Get Digital initiative, proudly supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW as part of Arts Restart.

HISTORY IN THE HEADLINES

22 January 2022

Each week we provide selected news articles and photographs from 50 years ago for publication in the Port Macquarie News. A recent article captured so much attention that the Port Macquarie News did a follow up story on how Kenny Little's car ended up in Kooloonbung Creek in 1972 and what happened afterwards.

CREATIVE WORKSHOPS POPULAR

21 January 2022

Our creative workshops with artist Lucy Frost from ArtLocal were a big hit over the school holidays. People of all ages participated, trying their hand at fancy lettering, collage, floral illustration and fabric printing. The workshops were held to inform new works by the artist for an exhibition New Journeys Broad Horizons. The Journeys themed exhibition opens in March. This project is supported by Create NSW’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program.

HEALING THE SPIRIT BOOK LAUNCHED

09 December 2021

Our latest publication Healing the Spirit - A Birrpai Perspective on the Port Macquarie Penal Colony and its Aftermath by Bob Davis and John Heath was launched today at beautiful Mansfield Estate. This was our final activity of 2021 to mark Port Macquarie’s bicentenary as a British penal colony. The publication has been supported by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council's Community Grants Program.

MUSEUM REOPENS AFTER LOCKDOWN

13 September 2021

Yes, we are open again! Visit and experience our 2021 Bicentenary Exhibition Trail and other local exhibitions. Pick up your free Bicentenary Postcard and 2021 Bicentenary Souvenir brochure. Still the same friendly welcome and helpful service.

MUSEUM TRANSFORMATION PLANS

28 July 2021

Plans to transform our Museum into a world class regional museum, cultural destination and community meeting place are one step closer with the completion of our Master Plan and Schematic Design project (Stage 1). The project was supported by the NSW Government's Regional Cultural Fund, Port Macquarie Hastings Council's Community Grants program and the Port Macquarie Historical Society. Only three more stages to go!

MARITIME COLLECTION ASSESSMENT

28 June 2021

We have just completed a Preservation Needs Assessment of our Maritime Collection thanks to a grant from the Maritime Museums of Australia Project Support Scheme (MMAPSS). The report will be used to improve the way we display, store and interpret our significant maritime collection and ensure its survival for future generations.

Read Report

FIRST CONVICTS BOOK LAUNCHED

11 June 2021

Our latest publication Port Macquarie's First Convicts was launched this afternoon. The book reveals the names of Port Macquarie's first convcits for the very first time. The publication has been supported by Create NSW’s Cultural Grant Program, a devolved funding program administered by the Royal Australian Historical Society on behalf of the NSW Government.

TOURISTS PARADISE HIGHLY COMMENDED

13 May 2021

Our online exhibition Tourists Paradise was highly commended in the Events, Exhibitions & Tours category in the 2021 National Trust Heritage Awards. Quite an achievement considering other finalists in the category included the City of Sydney, Sydney Living Museums and Orange Regional Museum.

PORT MACQUARIE BICENTENARY

10 April 2021

We are marking Port Macquarie's Bicentenary with a new exhibition trail '20 Decades 21 Stories'. The trail guides visitors on a journey of discovery to reveal the key themes and stories that have shaped and defined Port Macquarie's history and identity over the past 20 decades. All visitors receive a free bicentenary postcard (while stocks last).

CELEBRATING 61 YEARS

06 April 2021

We are celebrating our 61st Birthday at our State Heritage Store building at 22 Clarence Street with free entry from Saturday 10 April to Sunday 18 April 2021. Open daily 10.00am to 9.00pm.

Part of Port Macquarie's official Bicentenary Program.

THE STORY PORT

29 March 2021

We have launched our new website and new stories page 'The Story Port'. Here you can discover, learn, browse and explore our online curated stories about life at Port Macquarie. New stories are posted regularly. The project was supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.

RETURN TO LAKE INNES LAUNCHED

1 February 2021

Our latest publication Return to Lake Innes was launched this evening. The book includes original letters and journal entries written by Annabella Boswell, nee Innes in 1848 and 1853. The publication has been supported by Create NSW’s Cultural Grant Program, a devolved funding program administered by The Royal Australian Historical Society on behalf of the NSW Government.

MUSEUM SELFIE DAY

20 January 2021

We celebrated Museum Selfie Day with free entry today. The day was aimed at raising awareness of history and cultural material collections and encouraged people to visit and interact with museums and collections in different and creative ways. It was another way we are making our collections and their stories more accessible.

BICENTENARY POSTCARDS

19 November 2020

We have produced a series of postcards to mark Port Macquarie’s Bicentenary in 2021. The postcards feature designs created by Charles Sturt University (CSU) Bachelor of Creative Arts and Design (Graphic Design) third year students – Kim Adams and Chaney Boyle. The postcards have been supported by a CSU CUP Grant.

MUSEUM REOPENS

5 June 2020

We are pleased to announce our reopening. In accordance with Government guidelines we have made some changes to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our visitors and volunteers including changes to visitor flow, physical distancing measures and increased cleaning frequency. New opening times Monday to Saturday – 10.00am to 4.00pm, discounted admission fees and same warm welcome.

60TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS POSTPONED

18 March 2020

To protect our volunteer staff and the community we have closed our Museum to visitors for the time being. We were to celebrate our 60th Birthday from 18 April with free entry and a new exhibition 'Looking Forward, Looking Back'. These will be rescheduled.

'OUT OF THE FRAME' OPENS

10 February 2020

Out of the Frame, a collaborative exhibition with Port Macquarie U3A textile, fibre and acrylic artists, and clients of Lisa Hort, Creative Ageing Practitioner was opened tonight by Leslie Williams, Member for Port Macquarie. The exhibition is supported by a NSW Seniors Festival Grant and runs until 31 March 2020.

TOURISTS PARADISE ONLINE

22 January 2020

Announcing the launch of Tourists Paradise, a new online exhibition https://touristsparadise.com.au/, Check it out and discover why generations have made Port their holiday destination. Share your Port Macquarie holiday photos and memories with us #portmacquarietouristsparadise

MUSEUM SELFIE DAY 2020

15 January 2020

Museum Selfie Day was again popular with people visiting Port Macquarie for the holidays. Visitors from across Australia and beyond took the opportunity to experience our award winning museum for free and shared photos of their visit with family and friends on social media. #PortMacquarieMuseum. Visitors can also experience the museum for free on the first Sunday of each month.

HERITAGE WALK BROCHURE & APP

28 August 2019

Today we officially launched our new Heritage Walk brochure and app as part of NSW History Week celebrations. The brochure was supported by a Create NSW Cultural Grant administered by the Royal Australian Historical Society.

ARTWALK

18 July 2019

It was a full house for Artwalk 2019. Over 2,000 people visited us during the evening event. The Forest Courtyard with its red and green polka dot lights show was a big hit with the younger visitors, as was Forest the Koala sculpture. The historic film 'Forest Wealth' was projected in the garden area and 'Sixties in the Spotlight' was shown indoors. Artwalk is an initiative of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.

UPGRADE PLAN PROJECT UNDERWAY

16 April 2019

Our Museum Upgrade Master Plan and Schematic Design project is officially underway. Project consultants met with us today to discuss the design brief and project timelines, and to gain a greater understanding of the museum site, its buildings and the Clarence Street cultural precinct. The project will support investment to upgrade and improve visitor, exhibition and collection facilities.

WOMEN'S WEEK

06 March 2019

We celebrated NSW Women's Week with an interactive lecture titled 'Her Stories' by Museums and Heritage consultant Kylie Winkworth. Several women brought along objects and shared their own stories, or memories of important women in their lives. The event was supported by a 2019 Women's Week grant from NSW Family and Community Services and Port City Bowling Club.

'WHERE WE CALL HOME' OPENS

11 February 2019

Where we call home, a collaborative exhibition with Port Macquarie U3A textile and fibre artists, Port Macquarie U3A photography group and Omincare Alliance Creative Connection participants was opened tonight by Leslie Williams, Member for Port Macquarie. The exhibition is supported by a NSW Seniors Festival Grant and runs until 31 March 2019.

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VISIONARY UPGRADE PLAN GAINS FUNDING

18 January 2019

Member for Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams has announced funding of $113,965 for our Museum Upgrade Master Plan project from the NSW Government's Regional Cultural Fund. The $152,000 project is also supported by a Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Community Grant and cash and in-kind contributions from the Port Macquarie Historical Society.

MUSEUM SELFIE DAY 2019

16 January 2019

Museum Selfie Day was a big hit with families visiting Port Macquarie for the holidays. Visitors from across Australia and beyond took the opportunity to experience our award winning museum for free and shared photos of their visit with family and friends on social media. #PortMacquarieMuseum. Visitors to Port Macquarie can also experience the museum for free on the first Sunday of each month.

GRANDPARENTS DAY

28 October 2018

We took the Museum out of the building and down to Port Macquarie's Town Green on NSW Grandparents Day as part of Port Macquarie's '200 Together' community day celebrations. There were opportunities for families to connect, interact and share. The highlight of the day was our photo booth supported by a Grandparents Day grant from NSW Family and Community Services.

WORKING TOWARDS DEMENTIA FRIENDLY

26 September 2018

Port Macquarie Museum is one of many local businesses recognised as actively working towards becoming a dementia-friendly organisation.

The Museum has recently updated its dementia friendly action plan, is progressively making improvements to its facilities, signage and programs and has implemented a dementia awareness program for its volunteers.

MUSEUM UPGRADE VISION

12 September 2018

The Port Macquarie Museum is preparing an application to the NSW Regional Cultural Fund for funding to undertake an upgrade master plan project. The Museum's buildings are no longer fit for purpose and are not fully accessible to many members of the community.

TOURISM AWARDS HALL OF FAME

26 July 2018

The Port Macquarie Museum was inducted into the North Coast Regional Tourism Awards Hall of Fame last night! A big thank you to all our volunteer staff who make everything we do possible. We also picked up a Silver in the Cultural Tourism category.

Congratulations also to our partners and collaborators Arts Mid North Coast, Hello Koalas and Forestry Corporation who all won Gold in their categories.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

30 May 2018

We have recently completed an update of our Conservation Management Plan. The updated report will guide the management of our State Heritage Register listed building in coming years and inform future upgrades to improve visitor experiences. The project was supported by funds provided by the NSW Government through the Office of Environment and Heritage, The Copland Foundation and Port Macquarie- Hastings Council’s Community Grants program.

MUSEUM AUDIO GUIDE LAUNCHED

18 May 2018

Today was International Museum Day and we celebrated with free museum entry and launched our new free audio guide using the Izi.TRAVEL app. Visitors can now take a voice assisted tour of the museum onsite using their smart phone or tablet, or at any time on the web. Just another way we are reaching and connecting with audiences worldwide and sharing our collections and stories with new publics.

POSTCARD CONNECTIONS OPENS

5 April 2018

Postcards Connections, a collaborative exhibition with Port Macquarie U3A textile artists, Lisa Hort, Creative Ageing Practitioner, and Omnicare Respite Centre clients opened tonight. Over 70 people attended the launch with the exhibition officially opened by Leslie Williams, Member for Port Macquarie. The exhibition is supported by a NSW Seniors Festival Grant and is on show until 30 April 2018.

NSW TOURISM AWARDS FINALIST

5 October 2017

Port Macquarie Museum is a finalist in the 2017 NSW Tourism Awards - Cultural Tourism category. The category recognises tourism operations that foster a greater understanding and appreciation of authentic culture, history and heritage. Thanks to our team of hard working volunteers who continue to make our Museum a great visitor experience.

THANK YOU CSU STUDENTS AND STAFF

22 February 2017

Today we officially thanked Charles Sturt University staff and students for their work on our new window designs showcasing the talents of CSU Bachelor of Creative Arts and Design students and featuring objects from our collection. The project was assisted with a small grant under CSU's community-university partnership rural and regional arts and culture program. Thank You!

NEW WINDOW DESIGNS

14 December 2016

Thanks to a partnership with Charles Sturt University, new window designs showcasing the talents of CSU Bachelor of Creative Arts and Design students and feauring objects from the Museum's collection have been installed. The project was assisted with a small grant under CSU's community-university partnership rural and regional arts and culture program.

THE FOREST COURTYARD OPENS

7 November 2016

The Forest Courtyard has been officially opened by the Hon. Leslie Williams, MP, Member for Port Macquarie. The Forest Courtyard is an initiative of Forestry Corporation of NSW in partnership with the Port Macquarie Museum and a gift to the local community to celebrate Forestry Corporation's centenary. It is also home to Forest the Koala, part of the award-winning Hello Koala Sculpture Trail.

MUSEUM WINS GOLD TOURISM AWARD

30 July 2016

The Port Macquarie Museum has won gold in the Cultural Tourism category at the North Coast Destination Network and The Legendary Pacific Coast Tourism Awards for the third consecutive year. Congratulations to our wonderful team of volunteers and a big thank you to all our supporters.

REGIONAL TOURISM AWARDS FINALIST

25 July 2016

The Port Macquarie Museum is again a finalist in the 2016 North and The Legendary Pacific Coast Tourism Awards. Thanks to our team of hard working and committed volunteers who have continued to make our Museum such a great place to visit for over 7,000 visitors this past year.

WORKING TOWARDS DEMENTIA FRIENDLY

29 June 2016

The Port Macquarie Museum is now one of 19 businesses in Port Macquarie recognised as actively working towards becoming a dementia-friendly organisation.

The Museum has completed a dementia friendly action plan, is progressively making improvements to its facilities and signage, and has implemented a dementia awareness program for staff.

OUR RIVERS OUR HISTORY WINS MAGNA

20 June 2016

Port Macquarie Museum together with six other museums from Museums Australia - Mid North Coast Chapter has won a 2016 Museums and Galleries National Award (MAGNA) for the innovative online exhibition Our Rivers Our History. The project was in collaboration with Camden Haven, Kempsey, Mid North Coast Maritime, Tinonee, Wauchope and Wingham Museums.

MUSEUM WINS 2015 IMAGINE AWARD

18 November 2015

The Port Macquarie Museum has won a 2015 Museums and Galleries NSW IMAGinE Award for Waterways - Our Rivers Our History, an innovative online exhibition. The project was in collaboration with Camden Haven, Kempsey, Mid North Coast Maritime, Tinonee, Wauchope and Wingham Museums.

MUSEUM LAUNCHES NEW LOGO

20 October 2015

The Museum launched its new name, logo, brochure and website on Sunday 11 October with a Museum Muster. Port Macquarie-Hastings Mayor, Peter Besseling, officiated at the event which attracted over 300 visitors across the day.

Thanks to Port Macquarie - Hastings Council, 48th Regiment of Foot Re-enactment Group, Greta Warner, Wauchope Youth Theatre, Bago Magic, Andre Storer, Amber and Jason Bradshaw, 2Way FM, Rosanna Vanderlay and all our wonderful volunteers.

PORT MACQUARIE MUSEUM STRIKES GOLD!

August 2015

The Port Macquarie Museum has won gold for the second year in a row at the 2015 North Coast Tourism Awards.

Winning gold in the Cultural Tourism category recognises the extraordinary efforts of our museum’s 60 volunteers and their commitment to providing a quality tourism experience.

RETURN TO LAKE INNES LAUNCHED

1 February 2021

Our latest publication Return to Lake Innes was launched this evening. The book includes original letters and journal entries written by Annabella Boswell, nee Innes in 1848 and 1853. The publication has been supported by Create NSW’s Cultural Grant Program, a devolved funding program administered by The Royal Australian Historical Society on behalf of the NSW Government.

MUSEUM SELFIE DAY

20 January 2021

We celebrated Museum Selfie Day with free entry today. The day was aimed at raising awareness of history and cultural material collections and encouraged people to visit and interact with museums and collections in different and creative ways. It was another way we are making our collections and their stories more accessible.

BICENTENARY POSTCARDS

19 November 2020

We have produced a series of postcards to mark Port Macquarie’s Bicentenary in 2021. The postcards feature designs created by Charles Sturt University (CSU) Bachelor of Creative Arts and Design (Graphic Design) third year students – Kim Adams and Chaney Boyle. The postcards have been supported by a CSU CUP Grant.

Visit us Monday to Saturday 10.00am to 4.00pm. First Sunday Free - Visit for free on Sunday 4 June 11am to 2pm Information for Schools & Teachers see our Visit page.