Museum celebrates milestone
Elma Wilcox – the most senior of the visitors on the day, cuts the cake at the 40th anniversary. Picture Heather deFina.
The Kenilworth Museum has grown and expanded since the official opening on January 24, 1981. This growth and expansion has been due to the exceptional volunteer work of many people over the years.
The museum and its volunteers celebrated its 40 Year Anniversary last Wednesday
The history of the district is unique – from its first settlers and the pineapple rebellion to say nothing of the community spirit that has built halls, churches, showgrounds, swimming pools, retirement units, a bowling club and even purchased the land for the town park.
It is this small museum that is the repository of all this history and the place where the community can learn more of the town and district.
Former councillor Greg Rogerson helped launch the 3rd edition of the historical book — “Hinka Booma to Kenilworth 1850-1960”. It was updated recently by President of the Kenilworth & District Historical Association Lenore Meldrum. A special booklet was printed for distribution at the celebration. It covers the history of the buildings and when they arrived on site as well as detailing every member of the management committee since 1979 and the patrons.
First published in 1950 by the Kenilworth Centenary Celebrations Committee the original Hinka Booma to Kenilworth was “Respectfully dedicated to those pioneers who strove through the silences of the bush and penetrated to the Larger Bunya Country, when our capital city was only ‘a settlement on the Brisbane River’ and Kenilworth on the Mary was ‘Hinka Booma on the Numabulla’, and to those intrepid settlers, who gave us such names as Kenilworth, Obi Obi, Cambroon, Mt Ubi, Tamlyn, Little Yabba, and to those who followed the blazed tracks and who, by their enterprise and grit made it possible a century and a half later for us of the present generation to enjoy what this fertile valley has to offer.”
• Visit Kenilworth Museum at 7 Alexandra St Kenilworth. Email kenilworthmuseum@gmail.com. Or Facebook page ) Kenilworth Historical Museum | Facebook