Discovering the intriguing history of Hillgrove has just been made easier with the launch of a new virtual tour of Hillgrove Museum.
Established in the 1896 Hillgrove School building, the Hillgrove Rural Life and Industry Museum is managed by the Armidale Regional Council (ARC) and is an annexe to the Armidale Folk Museum.
In 1895 Hillgrove was a vibrant gold mining town with six pubs, four churches and a population of over 3000. Hillgrove began to decline after 1900 as the mines ceased to be profitable.
The Hillgrove Museum tells the story of the rise and fall of this once busy town. Visitors can discover the lives of the families who called Hillgrove home and how the miners won wealth from the unforgiving earth deep underground.
The museum contains a fascinating collection that provides the visitor a unique insight into everyday life in old Hillgrove. Displays include history of the Hillgrove School, domestic life, and the local agricultural and mining industries.
"With the introduction of the virtual tour at Hillgrove Museum people can explore the collection from the comfort of home," said Sarah Reddington – ARC's Arts, Culture and Heritage Officer. It will also allow people to have access to view the displays at the museum outside of opening hours.
"Hillgrove Museum is the final Council-run museum to have a virtual tour available online. All Council run museums including the Folk Museum and the Bicentennial Railway Museum can now be viewed and enjoyed any time of day and from the comfort of your own home."
The camera used to create the museum virtual tours was kindly loaned to ARC by the New England Regional Art Museum.
The Hillgrove Museum virtual tour can be found HERE
More about Council's Museums HERE
