The Nambour Museum takes you back in time -- time to old Nambour and its surrounds, that is. This unassuming-looking building is easy to overlook if you're driving past. It looks like just one more, well-kept old Queenslander in a town with all ready a few of them. Only this one has a sign in front as a museum and if you're interested in Sunshine Coast history, like I am, then the sign might catch your attention.
I was pleasantly surprised with what I found inside. It is like a rabbit-wren of rooms and displays that it isn't hard to get confused about where you started and which way to go next. I counted eighteen rooms and I wasn't too far off. There are, in fact, twenty display rooms inside and there is plenty more to see downstairs and out in the back.
Nambour Museum is run and supported by the Nambour and District Historical Museum Association, a duly incorporated not-for-profit organisation whose elected members perform their responsibilities in a voluntary capacity. The Association does not receive any funding and is therefore grateful for any public support, donation or sponsorship. Becoming a member gives way to becoming a volunteer or to simply support the museum's activities. These activities include regular heritage-themed special events; showing of historic photographic collections, videos and slideshows; showcasing of a comprehensive library resource; and community engagements.
The Nambour Museum displays Nambour's and surrounds' rich heritage since the first settlers arrived in the area and through the generations that followed. The Moreton Sugar Mill history left remnants of machinery and artefacts, including Eudlo and Shay locomotives and Sandy, the Cane Train. You can view these at the Bury Street end of the property. Also out there, is the original Moreton Mill engineer's office, old cane harvester, a flywheel, and a tippler.
You'll probably have a favourite among the exhibitions. Outside of the freaky-looking schoolmarm, mine is the school display. My inside nerd couldn't help herself and kept me rooted, reading snippets of old school writings. Running second best for me is the parlour room with its collection of dresses, haberdashery and novelty trinkets. Other display rooms are telecommunications, kitchen, laundry, toys, embroidery, hospital, and military. So go ahead, check it out and see what you relate to.
Nambour and District Historical Museum has limited opening hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays from one to four in the afternoon. The car park is through the Bury Street entrance. Main entrance to the museum is on Mitchell Street.
