Kilmore Historical Society

Research Service

The Kilmore Historical Society was formed in 1964 and since then has gained an extensive collection of historical and regional manuscripts and records.  Our Research Centre was opened in April 2000 to make these resources available to the public.  The Centre is currently operated by members on a volunteer basis to assist you in researching your Kilmore history.

Opening times are:

  • Tuesdays – from 10 am to 3 pm,
  • Thursdays – from 10a am to 3 pm,
  • Saturdays 10 am to 1 pm, and
  • Other times by appointment.

Use of the Centre’s resources is free for members. Non-member visitors are also welcome. A fee of $20 is charged for research and our members will assist you.

If you are planning a visit to the Centre, prior notification by email will give us the opportunity to locate any information we may have relative to your research and make your valuable time more productive.

Owing to a limited numbers of readers we would advise visitors to make a booking, ensuring maximum value from their time.

If you cannot visit in person, research requests are also welcome.  Please include as much information as possible.  A basic fee of $50 is charged. This provides for three hours of research plus postage within Australia and up to 5 pages of A4 photocopies.  (This fee is subject to change).

Research Form    To complete the form, download the PDF file and print.  You need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed to view this document.  The reader is available for free from Adobe’s website.

Please send Research enquiries to :

kilmorehistoricalsociety@gmail.com

or

The Secretary
Kilmore Historical Society,
2 Powlett Street,
Kilmore, Victoria, 3764
Australia

KHS Research Form v3Download

11 responses to “Research Service”

  1. Andrew Dark Avatar
    Andrew Dark

    Hello,
    I write to seek your assistance in maybe obtaining some historical (written and/or map) information regarding the accepted original route that the Hume Highway took through your district.
    Sometime this year I’m hoping to travel the full Melbourne – Sydney route over as much of the “old” route as I can.
    To date, I have collected some travel books/guides plus a few maps & parish plans (ongoing collection) to help piece together the most accurate route & hopefully with your help I can fine tune this data to make the journey more successful.
    If you can be of any assistance in this matter, it would be most appreciated.

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    1. grthom Avatar
      grthom

      Hi Andrew

      An interesting project. In our area of interest, ie Kilmore and district, the present Northern Highway is the old Hume Highway. Some corners may have been straightened but it virtually remains the same as the original route. There is a small realignment at a new round-about just north of Kilmore town where the old highway goes to Broadford. Thats about it.

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      1. grthom Avatar
        grthom

        Hi Andrew

        A follow-up thought – there is a book on the old highway from Sydney to Albury. Their aim was to do another book from Albury to Melbourne, see

        http://www.oldhumehighway31.com.au

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  2. Jan Visinko Avatar
    Jan Visinko

    Hi, Maybe off topic but I descend from the Crawfords of High Camp Kilmore i.e William Crawford is my great grandfather. I am aware of a book about Pyalong and have ordered a copy from ABE books, but I am wondering if your museum has any information on my Crawford family, Warm Regards, Jan Visinko
    (Blue Mountains< NSW) peachtreejan@gmail.com

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    1. grthom Avatar
      grthom

      Hi Jan
      Thank you for your enquiry. First I should say that Pyalong is outside our main area of interest. I am not aware of a historical society at Pyalong. William’s name is not listed in the indexes of the three local history books on Kilmore. Specific items we hold are set out on this page https://kilmorehistory.wordpress.com/local-communities/

      I note we hold a research file on the name Crawford, but I dont know if this is your family or not as I am at home. Our research arrangements are set out on this page https://kilmorehistory.wordpress.com/research-service/

      cheers
      Grahame Thom
      Vice President
      KHS

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  3. Lee Daniel Avatar
    Lee Daniel

    Hello there.
    I’m in the process of researching historical matters relating to the shotting of a policeman, Cadet Mounted Constable Thompson, who was attached to the then Kilmore Police Station in 1853. He was involved in assisting in the arrest of 2 escaped Tasmanian ticket of leave men named Bradley and O’Connor in the region of Romsey – Macedon in September 1853. He died 3 years later as a result of his wound. I’m interested in locating a photograph of the former police barracks at Kilmore, bearing in mind the new building was not completed until several years later. Any assistance would be hugely appreciated, it seems there could well be a book in the offing somewhere down the track. Regards Lee Daniel.

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    1. grthom Avatar
      grthom

      Hi Lee
      Many thanks for contacting the Kilmore Historical Society about the first Police Camp at Kilmore. I am a research officer for the Society. This camp covered a large area to the south east of the town, it had a home for the Magistrate, quarters for police officers and facilities for their horses. It was probably being established in the mid1850s. We dont know of any photos of that area. Most of the early photos of Kilmore can be found on the State Library of Victoria website.
      regards
      Grahame Thom

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  4. Mark McKenzie-McHarg Avatar
    Mark McKenzie-McHarg

    Hi Grahame
    I am exploring family history in relation to my great great aunt who was Ellen McKenzie-Mcharg (aka McHarg or Harg) from Emu Flat. I understand she was the first school teacher at the Tantaraboo School that was established as a private school by James Clarke in about 1872 or so. This school pre-dated the State School that came later in about 1875. (Source: ‘The Clarkes Of Tantaraboo’) I understand Fr Farrelly of St Patricks in Kilmore helped James Clarke find a teacher for the School and led to Ellen being there ?? and she later taught at the Emu Flat School (this is confirmed by Victorian Teacher Records).
    Ellen’s parents were Samuel and Margaret McKenzie-McHarg of Craiggowan, Emu Flat. She was born in 1855.
    Im wondering if you have any records on Ellen as a teacher in the area or the establishment of the original Tantaraboo school before the State School by that name was established n c. 1875??
    Regards
    Mark McKenzie-McHarg

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    1. grthom Avatar
      grthom

      Hi Mick
      Thank you for contacting our Society. Our main source of information about Tantaraboo is “The Clarkes of Tantaraboo”. There are some references to the State School in Heather Knight’s book “Kilmore – Those that came before”, published by our Society in 2007 (copies available). But we dont have any knowledge of teacher Ellen. Records of private schools back in 19th century are hard to come by. Maybe the Tantaraboo private school became the public school. This did happen as the parents and teacher of the private school sought funding from the government. Perhaps you should check out what records the Public Records Office holds on Tantaraboo School. It could be that the Romsey and Lancefield Historical Society may know more.

      regards

      Grahame Thom
      Vice President

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  5. Donal Henderson Avatar
    Donal Henderson

    I have recently purchased a colt navy 1851 percussion revolver that is marked VP with the id E10, I have been told that was the designation for Kilmore, any information about this pistol would be greatly appreciated

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    1. grthom Avatar
      grthom

      Hi Donal
      I am a research officer of the Kilmore Historical Society. I have no idea why an American Colt revolver has a connection to Kilmore, Victoria. A question – why Kilmore, Victoria? There are several towns called Kilmore across the western countries, especially in Ireland. In 1851 Kilmore was a very small town, and its main production was agriculture. I am not aware of any Americans in Kilmore back in those times. I dont think we can help you. More likely a gun club might be able to help. But maybe thats when you got assistance.

      regards

      Grahame Thom
      Vice President
      KHS

      Like

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