We acknowledge the traditional custodians of Gadubanud Country, Elders past and present. We respectfully acknowledge that we work and live on the lands of the Gadubanud nation on which these events are being held.
Upcoming events:
Open Day with launch of the redesign of the history rooms and the Beech Forest Walking Tour Audio & QR code project.
Sunday 14 September, 2.00pm Welcome followed by refreshments and invitation to explore the newly refurbished history rooms and take the town walking tour. The Beech Forest History series audio of Richard Collopy & Anthony Zappelli will provide an entertaining background as you wander throughout rooms.
Media enquiries: Contact Claire McClelland - otwayhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Past events:
The U3A, Apollo Bay members - March 2024
Boort District P-12 School - March 2024
The Gellibrand Progress Association members - April 2024
We are pleased to announce an event which will feature a talk by Norman Houghton, Historian, Author and ODHS member, on the history of Otway Hotels.
In addition, the four history rooms will be open including the Remember When exhibition and the Sawmill room which has a replica operating model of Pile Siding.
We will be welcoming members of the Forrest Historical Society as well as local community and ODHS members. All are very welcome.
Date: Sunday 26 February 2023
Place: ODHS History Rooms, Cliff Young Drive, Beech Forest
Another successful event at Beech Forest!
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| Anthony Zappelli delivers the Cliff Young talk |
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| The Beechy railway line |
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| Launch of the Beech Forest Walking & Driving tour |
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| Rate collection room, now Timber Sawmill room |
Sunday 25 Sept 2022
Once again we will be opening the doors to the history rooms at Beech Forest to coincide with the Gellibrand Golden Gumboots Beech Forest Day on Sunday 25 Sept. We will also be celebrating the life of Cliff Young, and the Beechy Railway as well as launching the Beech Forest Walking and Driving Tour and signage which has been co-funded by the Colac Otway Shire.
In
addition to the Golden Gumboot Hunt join us at the Cliff Young
commemorative boot where Anthony Zappelli, will share some stories of
the life of his friend and neighbour. Follow this with a historic walk
down Cliff Young Drive to view the newly installed history informative
signs or wander into the history rooms for the Remember When, the
Railway Exhibition and more.
Refreshments will be available.
Join us for this celebration
When: 25 September from 10.00 – 3.00pm; Cliffy talk & launch 1.00pm
Where: Beech Forest Community Hall, Beech Forest
Save the date! Sunday 25 September Otway Districts Historical Society Open day, commemorating Cliff Young to coincide with the Hunt Golden Gumboots event and the launch of the Beech Forest Walking and Driving Tour. More information to follow soon.
Monday 25 April 2022
Anzac Day Service & Luncheon
The
80th anniversary of the massacre of Australian Nurses in WW2. Special
exhibition of war memorabilia, historic artefacts, photographic images
and more.
Service commences at 11 am, Beech Forest Hall, Cliff Young Drive, Beech Forest
Saturday 9th April 2022
Beech Forest Community Market from 2pm and Barn Dance from 6pm, including 100 year Hall celebration with hall history display.
LIVE band and lucky door prizes, Tickets $25 Kids 12 & under free!
Ticket includes BBQ dinner.
The
Remember When exhibition, hall display and history panels will remain
on show and open to the public on Sundays 2-4pm throughout January 2022.
Sunday 12 December 2021
Another fabulous day in our beautiful hall and history rooms, with many community members and visitors. Our guests were welcomed by Anthony Zappelli and we were privileged to have the Colac Otway Shire Mayor, Kate Hanson launch the history panels, with Cr Stephen Hart also in attendance. Will Beale entertained us with his memories of the hall in honour of the 100 year celebration and there was a magnificent high tea.
Community open day, 31 January 2021
We were pleased to welcome so many community members to our permanent display and also to view a special textile display which included the very special Otways Federation quilt. The quilt provides a textile-based journey into the past, chronicling the story of settlement of the Otways region. The embroidered panels relate to local people from areas around Beech Forest and Gellibrand, listed either by full names or initials, many of whom worked under harsh conditions to survey land holdings, roads and the railway.
Community Open Day, 18 April 2021
Display of our new postcard collection featuring some of our unique historic photographic images, gift cards featuring local landscapes and a collection of original postcards.
Anzac Day - April 25 2021, 11am
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| Modern Day Solider exhibition |
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| Anzac Day Service 2021 |
Every year we are pleased to welcome the community and others to the annual Beech Forest Anzac Day service, lunch is provided following the service.