Museum Collections
Place-based collections at our historic houses and museums
Regional NSW
Museums of History NSW connects with regional audiences and supports local museums and galleries, archives and heritage organisations through a vibrant mix of learning programs, live webinars, digital storytelling, collection loans and our Regional Archives Centres.
Thanks to the support and involvement of our regional communities, audiences, peers and partners, MHNSW’s reach extends far beyond our museum walls. This broad and growing engagement reflects our commitment to making history accessible, relevant and inspiring for people across NSW.
This page highlights some of the many activities, resources and projects developed with, for and about our regional audiences.
Collections on Tour
We are on the road again for 2026, sharing our stories with the people of regional NSW.
Collections on Tour 2026
In our active and ongoing Collections on Tour program, MHNSW experts travel to regional areas to share our collections and knowledge with the people of NSW. The presentations are followed by opportunities for participants to view items from our State Archives, Caroline Simpson Library and museum collections, often including objects from their own locality.
Resources for regional NSW
Our Learning, Collections Care and Curatorial teams worked in collaboration with our Museums & Galleries of NSW partners to develop a series of short videos that are now available to download or stream.
Video series
Designed for small to medium-sized local and regional museums, the videos explore practical and technical aspects of collection storage, assessing collection significance and using objects to engage students with history. We hope you enjoy them!
Symposiums
Hosting a biennial Regional Symposium is one of the ways in which MHNSW is supporting the sector and extending our regional reach. We are committed to bringing people together to build skills in key areas and develop support networks with one another.
2027 Symposium
Save the date!
We are pleased to announce that we will host our next Regional Symposium in July 2027 as part of our commitment to supporting regional museums and communities. More details will be released closer to the event. For information, contact regional@mhnsw.au.
Past symposium
Past event
Volunteer Symposium for NSW Regional and Community-Run Museums 2025
Museums of History NSW partnered with Museums & Galleries of NSW to host the inaugural Volunteer Symposium for NSW Regional and Community-Run Museums
Monday 28 July 10am–5pm
Latest News
Wrap-up of the regional volunteer symposium
The inaugural Volunteer Symposium was held at The Mint in partnership with Museums & Galleries of NSW on 28–29 July 2025
Partnerships
MHNSW is committed to embracing our statewide mandate to extend our reach, including partnering with and supporting regional museums, archives and historians.
Stay tuned for new partnerships in 2026.
Partnerships
By increasing our regional reach, we will create opportunities for learning, dialogue and collaboration that inspire connection to our shared past and future
Regional Archives Centres
A Regional Archives Centre is a public office – typically a university or local council – that preserves and provides access to the archives of its host institution along with state archives of regional significance. These collections may include records from local land boards, schools, councils, police, and local courts.
Regional Archives Centres
The network gives physical context to regional state archives by keeping them within the communities where they were created and gives those communities ready access to their archives
News
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Making Home: Collections on Tour
MHNSW was proud to present Making Home: A Short History of Houses, Interiors and Gardens in NSW in 2025
Latest News
Wrap-up of the regional volunteer symposium
The inaugural Volunteer Symposium was held at The Mint in partnership with Museums & Galleries of NSW on 28–29 July 2025
Latest News
Wages Paid to Orphans – a regional tour
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our recent Collections on Tour program on Wages paid to orphans, 1849-1851
![Cover label Small debts registers [Newcastle Court of Petty Sessions]](https://api.mhnsw.au/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.mhnsw.au%2Ffotoweb%2Fembed%2F2024%2F02%2F448019088ded476a82b8d0ea1fcc00d6.jpg&w=1920&h=400&fit=inside&format=webp)
Latest News
Archives for Everyone
The Archives for Everyone project has seen us partner with 14 groups who have nominated Small Debts registers from Courts of petty sessions throughout NSW
Latest News
Significance matters
As part of an ongoing partnership with Museums & Galleries of NSW, our Curatorial and Digital teams have been hard at work making a suite of vocational videos that explore the importance of assessing and communicating the significance of museum collections
Latest News
Storage on a Shoestring: collections care videos launched
Our Collections Care and Digital teams have been hard at work making make a suite of vocational videos for volunteers and staff working in museums across the state
Collections
Explore our collections from anywhere, anytime
State Archives Collection
Making history every day
Caroline Simpson Collection
Home and garden design, history and life
Regional stories and resources from our collections
The Spa subsidised school
A curious index card unlocks information about a unique subsidised school, whose history has been preserved within the State Archives Collection
The fountains of Machattie Park, Bathurst
Several of the postcards featured in our current library display depict Machattie Park in Bathurst. Postcard collector Vera Bell lived in Bathurst between 1905 and 1908 while her father, John, acted as the police superintendent
Probate packets: what the files can tell you
Probate packets hold the last will and testament, codicils, an inventory of assets of the estate, affidavits of death and other papers
Tamworth – Archives in Your Town
Explore the town of Tamworth through records in the State Archives Collection and watch the recording of the virtual event
Theatres & public halls: what the files can tell you
Theatres and public halls had to be licensed from 1895. They were owned by private individuals, businesses, religious organisations, community groups and councils and they were used for many purposes – dances; social gatherings; showing movies; live entertainment and skating (roller and ice)
Ulladulla school records
Explore the town of Ulladulla through the school records in the State Archives Collection and watch the recording of the virtual event
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