Pairs, Fours & Eights A history of the Bairnsdale Rowing Club 1872 - 1965

In 1872 a group of rowing enthusiasts held a meeting to establish the Bairnsdale Rowing Club (BRC), with the first regatta being held the following year in 1873.

The first boathouse for the BRC was a bark hut rented from Mr Doherty for the grand some of £2.00 per annum. In 1888 a new boathouse was built which housed the BRC's fine collection of rowing craft.

Annual regattas became very popular, particularly the Easter Regatta with teams coming to compete from all over the State. Pairs, teams of four, and ladies and mens eights were crowd favourites. Regattas continued annually unitl 1953 when membership of the club began to fall. On the 7th of July 1965 a meeting was held and the club was finally dissolved. The club boathouse was dismantled the following year in 1966.

In 1981 a school regatta was held on the Mitchell River and has seen a revival of the rowing club, with new sheds located at Howitt Park along the banks of the river. The Mitchell River continues to attract rowing clubs from elite Schools in Melbourne, which are often seen training on the river early in the morning as you pass over the Mitchell River bridge. 9th April to 17th July 2011.

Ships of the Lakes & Seas

An exhibition of model ships & boats on loan to the museum from private collections. Ranging from sailing ships, ocean liners, cargo ships to runabouts the models capture the essence of shipping throughout history.

Artefacts, photos and stories from the Gippsland Lakes and coastal shipping supplement the nautical theme of this display.

27 October 2010 to 31 January 2011

Murder and Mayhem

An exhibition of stories of murder, mayhem and natural disasters in the local Bairnsdale area and surrounding districts from the mid 1800's to the early 1900's.

Exhibibition opens Saturday 17th April 2010 - 22 October 2010

In memory of Mona

An exhibition of memorabilia of one of Bairnsdale and District's early photographers.

4th April 2009 to 31 May 2009

Mona Catherine McLeod (c.1898 - 1964) photographed East Gippsland from 1912 until her retirement in 1959. The daughter of Alexander and Christine (nee. Roberston), she was born near Bemm River and recieved her first camera when 11 years old. At the aged of 14 she left home and, after waiting on tables, commenced an apprenticeship with Howard Bulmer at Bairnsdale. While still in her twenties she opened her own studio in Bairnsdale and at various times employed up to three female assistants. She was one of the few photographers in the district and was known to rarely refuse a job. While her photographic career spanned a time when cameras were changing rapidly she continued to use her old fashioned bulky plate camera, which is now lodged a the Historical Museum at Bairnsdale. This was the camera she used while covering newsworthy events, sports, pictorials and studio work. Many of her photographs were used to illustrate reports in the Argus, Herald, and Weekly Times newspapers. She is remembered for her vivacious attitude and good humour. Her imprints were many and varied.

(Article from Gipplsand in Focus)