Maldon District Museum
The Maldon District Museum holds an extensive and diverse collection of several thousand artefacts from the district. Our artefacts range from the unique and highly significant to the curious and commonplace; they record our history and all contribute to the rich narrative of the Maldon District.
The exhibition is presented as thematic displays which interpret and present many aspects of our history. The core 'timeline' exhibition is complemented by a variety of temporary displays. Displays are enriched by the use of slideshows of material from the collection and more recently by the introduction of QR codes and NFC tags on selected artefacts to provide extended information to our visitors.
The building housing the collection is also an architectural treasure which was constructed under difficult goldfields conditions. It resulted from an early decision of the first Maldon municipal body to develop a Market Place to stimulate local trade. Construction of the first proposed building was completed in 1859, however in spite of several launches it failed as a Market House and sat under-utilised for some years.
In 1865 it was remodelled to become the Shire Offices and Hall. It served this purpose for 99 years until in 1964, the Shire of Maldon moved to new premises nearby (the cream brick building towards the front of the gardens). In 1966 the Maldon (& District) Museum was established in the building.
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Museum Building & Gardens
Former Market Hall
The Maldon Museum is housed in the former Market Hall. The gabled roofed brick hall with a large distinctive arched entry at either end was designed by Arthur Hartley and constructed by Jameson, Aitken and Marshall to serve as a market hall. An underground water tank was also built and later used to supply the local fire cart.
The market was unsuccessful and closed in the early 1860s. In 1865 it was proposed that the building be converted into a shire hall and offices. The original builders made alterations including the addition of a classical style portico and a mezzanine floor. The impressive hammer beam trusses were added to the ceiling in 1871 to tie the walls together. The council remained in the building until new shire offices were built in 1964. The building now houses the Maldon Museum.
Garden setting
On 19 May 1863 two English Oaks (Quercus robur) were planted to commemorate the marriage of Prince Albert Edward (later King Edward WI) to Alexandra, Princess of Denmark on 10 March 1863. The Royal Oaks are of historical and aesthetic significance due to their age, large spreading crowns and prominent position at the corners of the public gardens reserve.
A strong design element of the gardens is the axial pathway commencing at the two granite Shire Hall markers on the footpath in High Street, through the granite framed gateway that honours Maldon's Pioneers, around the Shire of Maldon Jubilee memorial and up to the former Market Hall.
The gardens have a number of picnic tables and BBQs.
War Memorial
Maldon R.S.L continues a strong tradition of Anzac Day commemoration at the impressive War Memorial within the gardens.
There is a tree which was propagated from the seed of the Lone Pine at Gallipoli.
Heritage
The former Market Hall and Royal Oaks are of historical, aesthetic and architectural significance to the State of Victoria. The hall has significant historical associations with the early development of local government and with the gold rush in Victoria. Built by the newly formed Council of Maldon to compete with the original Castlemaine market, the Market Hall was intended to enhance the commercial and civic importance of the town. The history of the Maldon Market Hall demonstrates the development of early goldfields towns into agricultural and commercial centres and the increasing emphasis on civic pride.
Rotunda
The construction of a Band Rotunda had been a long held dream of the local community. As early as 1883 a petition was presented to Maldon Council 'very numerously signed by the rate-payers of Maldon and other ridings pointing out the necessity of building a rotunda in the Maldon Reserve' (Tarrangower Times, 13 April 1883).
The community realised this dream in 2008 through a partnership of Maldon Folk Festival, Maldon Brass Band, Maldon Museum and Maldon Lions Club - Committees of management jointly with the Victorian Government: Small Towns Development Fund, Heritage Victoria - 'Creating better places' and Mount Alexander Shire Council.
Location
93 High Street, Maldon 3463 Map
✆ (03) 5475 1633
Email Enquiry
Web Links
→ maldonmuseum.com.au
→ Maldon Museum & Archives Association on Facebook
