The Gerringong Museum has marked its 25th anniversary in fine style.
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Gerringong and District Historical Society president Helen McDermott welcomed a large crowd to the museum on Saturday night.
The crowd included Keith Mace and Ken Miller, who helped with building the museum from 1987 to 1991, and Colin Hollis, who opened the museum in September 1991 as Throsby MP.
Research officer Margaret Sharpe gave a short history of the society and museum building.
The first display in the museum showcased the history of the dairy industry, and six students at Kiama High School painted a mural for the display which is still on show.
The society’s Bobbie Miller introduced Jeff Hewett and Dennis Koks, art teachers who planned and supervised the painting, and two of the artists, Alex Matyear, and Wendy Wallace-Parnell.
Speaker Dr Roslyn Russell outlined the importance of museums in establishing the identity of communities, and told the stories of particular items in the museum.
She mentioned a beautiful timber patterned butter press; two medals, awarded to William Bailey for corn grown at Gerringong, at International Exhibitions in Adelaide and Melbourne in 1887 and 1888; and a unique model of Sydney Harbour Bridge, made by Mrs Stewart, mother of footballer Roy Stewart from shells from local beaches.
