Derby Schoolhouse Museum in Derby, Tasmania | History Museum

Derby Schoolhouse Museum

Locality: Derby, Tasmania

Phone: +61 457 281 257

Address: 53 Main Street 7264 Derby, TAS, Australia

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• Community organisation
• History Museum

24.01.2022 Were any of our fb friends members of Radio Station 7DY's childrens club, the Sunpolishers Club? We have been contacted by an author who is researching clubs of this type. He is trying to locate and buy a Sunpolishers Club badge, had offered $100 for one. Contact us if you have one!!

23.01.2022 Yesterday a workshop run by Arts Tasmania's Roving Curator Program included a lesson on how to clean and display various items, including this Australian Army kit bag. We have no information relating to this individual, and would appreciate any help in identifying the owner. Tucker is a well known north east family name, hopefully someone will be able to help.

22.01.2022 It was a very special day at the Museum yesterday, with a visit from Margaret Jenkins, nee Krushka, past resident and student of the school. Margaret was on a road trip with her lovely grand daughters Olivia and Claudia, and son Dewayne, who are visiting from Sydney. In this photo Margaret is showing the girls a photo album of the night she made her debut in the Town Hall. Margaret, her twin sister Susan, some cousins and several other young women were presented to the then premier, Eric Reece at a glittering ball! Olivia and Claudia enjoyed visiting Derby and seeing where their Gran grew up, and where their father lived as a baby! Lovely to meet you all, come back on April 27th for the Back to Derby Reunion!

22.01.2022 Due to a shortage of volunteers at the moment the museum will be open from Noon until 2 PM. Saturday 28th Dec. Sorry for any inconvenience!

21.01.2022 Happy New Year everyone! To allow our volunteer to really celebrate the New Year in style, the Museum will be closed on January 1st, New Year's Day. Take care everyone

20.01.2022 Old friends reunited today, after 60!!! years!! Luckily I was on duty at the Museum today, when 2 people came in. Within minutes we realised we had been at school together as 11 year olds, when Jeltje's father, Mr Hofman, was headmaster at the Derby primary school. Such a lovely surprise for us both! Other visitors in the museum who witnessed our reunion seemed as happy as we were!!! What a great day!

19.01.2022 First visitors today were 2 young backpackers from Argentina, Milagros and Agustin. They are part of a larger group of friends travelling our state. So nice to meet you, hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Tasmania! Travel safe!!!!

18.01.2022 Ok, this is a really long shot but I'm hoping someone out there can shed some light on this photo for us. This is a photo taken thru glass several years ago. The most recent photographer can't recall where he took the photo, thinks it was at an historic display somewhere. It shows a group of people standing in front of a steam machine, and in the foreground men in a mine operation, apparently the Briseis mine. We'd love a better photo and more information if any one can help.

16.01.2022 First visitors this morning were Tim Bright and his family from north east Victoria. Tim's Great grandmother was Olive Beswick. She married James Cameron Edwards after WW1. He appears on our WW1 Honour Roll. Olive's sister married George Gandy, a decorated War Hero aand Derby's only Rhodes Scholar. So nice to meet you all, and hear of your strong family connection to Derby. It was almost like having royalty in the house!!

16.01.2022 Unfortunately the Museum will not be open until noon on Monday 10th February. Apologies for any inconvenience!Unfortunately the Museum will not be open until noon on Monday 10th February. Apologies for any inconvenience!

16.01.2022 In between visitors today I have been reading a 1941 copy of the English magazine 'Ladies' Journal'. I imagine my grandmother would have read this magazine, it gave all sorts of tips on how to make clothing coupons go further, including how to liven up last year's old summer dress, and unknitting old 'woollies', and reusing the yarn. No 'fast fashion' in war time.... we could learn a lot from this magazine!

14.01.2022 We are very happy to advise that the Museum will now be open from 11 AM until 3 PM Monday through Saturday. Looking forward to seeing lots of Tasmanian visitors in the next few months, and then, hopefully we will be back to welcoming our interstate visitors too. Stay well everyone!

12.01.2022 International visitors today fron Singapore, Weng Cheong, Robert, Esther and Fiona, came in to check out the museum while enjoying a break from the MTB trails. Missing from tne photo is Wilson, their guide for this trip. All agree they have had a fun time in our area, and have enjoyed learning a little of the history of the deep North East. Tomorrow they head to St Helen's on the newly opened Bay of Fires epic trail. Ride safe ya'll, see you in March Wilson!!

11.01.2022 Another fun day at the museum, with a visit from a past resident, Hilton Houstein, who owned the post office in the early 1970's. Hilton now lives on the Gold Coast, and is visiting the state, so a road trip to Derby was a must do! Several old friends also reconnected so there was a lot of reminiscing and laughs! It was so nice, sort of a prelude to the reunion we are planning for April 27th. Don't forget to mark the date on your calendar, and let us know that you are coming!!! In this photo from left to right... Virginia Valentino, Bridport, Robyn Smedley, Hilton's niece, Blackwall. Katie Sheehan, Launceston, Suzie Gregson (nee Flemming) Launceston, Suzanne Robinson, Blackwall, niece of former residents Addie and Reg Bishop. HILTON HOUSTEIN, past resident, Gold Coast, and his son Michael, from Gundagai.

11.01.2022 Past resident of Derby, and past student of the Derby Primary School, Katy Woodroffe visited the museum today. Katy is a well known artist here in Australia and overseas, and exhibits widely. It was so nice to catch up with Katy and her husband John today and marvel at the changes to Derby, the sleepy little town we grew up in. For more information regarding Katy's work visit her website www.katywoodroffe.com

10.01.2022 Great News! As of Tuesday 8th September, the Museum will be open for visitors once again. To begin with, opening hours will be 11 am to 3 pm, Tuesday thru Saturday. We will be closed Sundays, and some Mondays. We will post updates when this changes. We have missed our visitors and look forward to seeing you all again soon!!!

10.01.2022 Tania Graham, a grand daughter of a previous student to the school, Doris (Jean) popped in for a visit today in between riding the mountain bike trails. Great grandfather Hardie was bank manager at the National Bank of Tasmania, and Uncle Allan was born in the big room at the back of the building! You don't get much more Derby than that do you!!! Thank you for visiting today Tania, so pleased to meet you and to hear your stories!!!

07.01.2022 The museum is excited to be getting ready for a re opening soon. At this point in time it's looking like being around the middle of June. We will have further details as we get closer to that date and look forward to receiving visitors once again.

07.01.2022 Tonight the Derby Schoolhouse Museum was the venue for a cocktail party held for delegates of the MTB Summit being held in Derby. About 45 people attended, and all seemed really interested to learn about Derby's fascinating history. People had travelled from as far away as Norway to attend..to visit this town called Derby, and to see first hand why every mtb rider in the world wants to come here! How special is that!!!

05.01.2022 In view of the current coronavirus crisis a decision has been reluctantly made to close the museum from this coming weekend until further notice. As soon as it is deemed safe, we will be back on deck. We will post advice as soon as we feel it safe to reopen. In the mean time, stay safe and healthy everyone!

04.01.2022 Museum will be closed until further notice due to rain damage. Sorry for this inconvenience. Please watch this space for updates.!!

02.01.2022 Another busy day at the Museum, with lots of very interesting and curious visitors from all over. Julie Carey, nee Richardson, was amongst those who came in to visit and remember her time at the school, and her life as a child in Derby. Julie's grandfather Donald Richardson, was one of those who lost their life in the 1929 dam burst. Mr. Richardson was in his early 40's when he died. Thank you for visiting Julie, lovely to see you again, and we'll catch up again at the reunion on April 27th!!!