Hastings Historical Society Museum facts for kids

The Hastings Historical Society Museum is a special old building in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia. It used to be a shop but is now a museum. It was built between 1835 and 1840 by William Stokes. People also call it the Port Macquarie Historical Society Museum or the Port Macquarie Museum. This building is so important that it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.

A Look Back: The Museum's History

The building that is now the museum was a shop for a very long time, even into the 1900s. The land it stands on was bought in 1834 by Edward McRoberts. He paid a small amount of money for it.

Early Days as a Shop

The oldest part of the building, on the western side, was probably built between 1835 and 1840. Mr. W. Stokes owned it after 1834. Later, in 1853, shopkeepers Samuel and Elizabeth Cohen sold it to another shopkeeper, William Killion.

William Killion then sold it to James H. Young in 1868. Young sold it to Francis Marchment in 1881. Around this time, the eastern part of the building was added. The Marchment family owned the property until 1925.

Francis Marchment's Time

Francis Marchment (1843-1923) ran his business from this building from 1881 to 1925. He moved to Port Macquarie in 1869. He and his partner, George Day, used a small boat called a cutter to trade goods along the Hastings River. They traded with people on Rawdon Island and in Beechwood. Day left the business after a short time.

Francis Marchment often traded goods instead of using money. Settlers would give him cedar logs, animal hides, chickens, and corn. In return, he would give them sugar, flour, tea, salt, and clothes. He would tow the heavy cedar logs behind his boat. His trading horn was a welcome sound for the settlers. His boat was often their only way to get supplies and connect with the outside world.

Francis Marchment met his wife, Christina Newberry (1855-1911), on Rawdon Island. They had seven sons and two daughters. Most of their children were born in this very building.

Becoming a Museum

The Hastings Historical Society took over the building in 1959. They slowly fixed it up and added more parts in 1968 and 1977. During the first repairs, they found signs of changes made long ago. They also found old bricks with marks from convicts who built them. More additions were made later to create space for research, storage, displays, and offices.

In 2013, the Society worked with Kevin Williams to create a plan for cultural tourism. This plan suggested ways to make the museum even better and help it last for many years.

What the Museum Looks Like

The museum building has an architectural style called Old Colonial Georgian. It's a simple, two-story building made of painted bricks that were made by hand. It has a hipped iron roof, which used to be made of shingles, and two chimneys. The roof used to be gable shaped. This changed when a 13-foot extension was added to the eastern end in the late 1800s. This extension meant an old internal staircase had to be removed.

A skillion kitchen used to be along the southern wall. The ceilings and upstairs walls inside are made of boards. When the Hastings District Historical Society leased the building in 1959, it was in bad shape. They fixed it by putting in new floors downstairs, a new staircase, fresh paint, and new gutters. They also replaced fireplace surrounds and built an annex. Big additions were made on the south side in 1968 and 1977. More extensions were added to the back of the building in 1988.

The building was in excellent condition in 2004. There's a good chance of finding more historical items underground. During renovations, they found convict-made bricks under the floor and signs of earlier changes to the building.

Changes Over Time

• 1834: The original shop was built.
• 1880s: An extension was added to the eastern side of the building.
• 1959: The building was renovated.
• 1968: An extension was added on the south side.
• 1977: Another extension was added on the south side.
• 1988: More extensions were added to the back of the building.

Why the Museum is Important

The museum building shows what buildings looked like when people were first allowed to settle freely in Port Macquarie. It is one of the few early shops and homes still standing in Port Macquarie. It's also located near other historic buildings like the Old Port Macquarie Courthouse and The Garrison. As a museum, it continues to be a central place for learning about history and heritage in the community.

The Hastings Historical Society Museum was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.

See also

• Old Port Macquarie Courthouse
• St Thomas' Anglican Church
• Port Macquarie Government House Site
• Port Macquarie First Burying Ground
• Port Macquarie Second Burying Ground
• Overseers' Cottages Remains
• Lake Innes House Ruins