The Importance of Oral Histories

Want to learn more about the value of oral histories and Council’s heritage collections? 

Join us at our upcoming event at Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens.  

Historian Dr Nicolette Snowden will explain how to record oral histories and examine their value in both a community and professional context. Nicolette is an experienced oral historian, researcher and writer and she is a member of the Professional Historians Association (Victoria and Tasmania) and Oral History Victoria. 

The program venue, Benga, was home to Australia’s first oral history centre. The centre resulted in a collection of recordings and transcripts of more than 300 interviews with a cross-section of people from the city. These oral histories now form part of Council’s Civic and Cultural Heritage Collection. Over the years, these oral histories have formed the basis of many social history exhibitions and have provided an invaluable research tool for those studying Australia’s cultural heritage. Council’s Heritage Collection Officer will provide attendees with an overview of this important collection. 

This program is being run in conjunction with the We Built This City exhibition.

A light afternoon tea will be held following the presentations. 

Registrations are required as placed are limited.