In 1965 the Kangaroo Valley Historical Society conceived the idea of having a museum on land where Charles Throsby camped on his pioneer journey through Kangaroo Valley in 1818. A letter was written to the Lands Department in October, 1965 by the Society.
After seven years of patient effort the Society was successful. The NSW Government Gazette of 7 January 1972 declared the land to be a “Reserve for Public Recreation and Museum”.
Also in 1972, the Society obtained from the Water Board, as a gift, the Rendall Homestead (over 100 years old) and associated farm buildings. On 8 January 1972 the President of the Society, the late Archie Chittick, got access to the premises and, with two other members, started dismantling the Homestead. Work proceeded steadily until the Rendall Cottage was dismantled and then rebuilt on its current location at the museum. Sadly, Archie Chittick, on return to the Valley from working hard on dismantling the Homestead, collapsed and died on 1 February 1973. As a tribute, the Archie Chittick Memorial Museum building was built in recognition of all that Archie had done for the Society.
The Rendall Cottage shows what such a home was like at the turn of this century. Additional farm buildings were established also, to demonstrate how farming was done by hand methods, and exhibits of historical farm equipment, machinery and artifacts are on display.
At the Official Opening by the Minister for Lands, the late Tom Lewis, on 10 November 1973, the Museum was named Kangaroo Valley Museum Park and Historical Settlement. Mr Lewis also announced that the Lands Department was acquiring additional land of 21½ acres over Tanner’s Creek and this was offered to the Trust as an extension to the park.
A ‘Kangaroo Valley Museum Park Appeal Fund’ was set up, under the chairmanship of the late Professor John Griffith, with donations being received from many businesses, other historical societies and families mostly from the Shoalhaven area. The fund raised $12,145 in about six months and paid for many of the debts incurred to establish the museum as it is today.
Remarkably, today the museum remains a wonderful place to visit, taking in the history as well as a relaxing walk across Tanner’s Creek to the additional bushland, then having a picnic and BBQ under covered areas at the end of the day!
Christine Murphy
