Backing local groups to keep our history alive
Community organisations across Victoria can now apply for a share in $350,000 available for projects that preserve and share stories of Victoria’s local history.
The Local History Grants Program, managed by Public Record Office Victoria, is now accepting applications for allocations of up to $15,000.
The last round of the Program saw 49 community groups across Victoria share in funding, including;
- Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative to collate an online history marking the group’s 40 years of work, including the story of their founding elders and the next wave of Aboriginal activists
- Carlton Community History Group for electronic preservation of oral histories that tell the story of the suburb’s diverse past
- Melbourne Legacy to digitise films dating to the 1930s documenting their work in caring for the widows and children of deceased servicemen
- Alexandra Timber Tramway and Museum for interpretive panels for its large collection of historically-significant machinery
- Horsham Historical Society for computers to allow community access to the group’s digitised collection of photos and records, and to digitise cassette tapes of interviews
- Wandong History Group for equipment to help mount exhibitions, including a Black Saturday memorial and a World War I display that will be shown at local libraries.
Other successful projects ranged from innovative walking tour apps and newspaper digitisation projects to practical storage solutions to help collecting organisations keep historical artefacts in top condition.
Submit your application online via prov.vic.gov.au/community/grants-and-awards
Applications close on 8 January 2020.
Quotes attributable to Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings
“Our dedicated community organisations do such a great job of collecting and preserving Victoria’s fascinating and diverse history.”
“The Local History Grants Program is all about supporting these groups that mean so much to the community by telling stories about our past and shining a light on our future.”
Quotes attributable to Public Record Office Victoria director and Keeper of Public Records Justine Heazlewood
“We’re pleased to again offer our support to the people sharing stories of local history.
“We encourage all community groups considering an upcoming history or anniversary project – from sports clubs to schools, historical societies and creative groups – to apply for a grant of up $15,000 as part of this year’s program.”
Media release
View the full media release
How to apply
To learn more about the application process and guidelines please go to our information page on the grants process
https://prov.vic.gov.au/community/grants-and-awards/local-history-grants-program
View the winning Victorian applicants for 2019
Forty nine community groups across Victoria received funding for their projects, to learn more go to this page which lists the names of the organisations and their projects.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/round-17-recipients-2018-2019
Digitising newspapers for Chinese family history, and Collingwood Children's Farm anniversary project
As a founding member of the Chinese Australian Family Historians of Victoria, Robyn Ansell understands how much the Maryborough & Dunolly Advertiser is an important resource for researching Victoria’s early Chinese immigrants. With the support of a Public Record Office Victoria Local History Grant in 2019, early issues (1857 – 1867) of this local paper have been digitised and are easily accessible to the general public through the popular National Library of Australia website Trove.
Read more about this project on our blog Striking Research Gold
Collingwood Children's Farm's celebrate their 40th birthday in 2019 and they’re celebrating this milestone by “capturing the essence and history of the farm, and the voices of the people who love this place.” With the help of a Local History Grant, CCF have undertaken a comprehensive interview project, speaking to almost 60 people who are connected to the farm in diverse and interesting ways.
Read more about this project on our blog Share histories of Collingwood's Children Farm
Contact media team for further information
Kate Follington or Tara Oldfield on 0418 698 364
