MANILLA HERITAGE MUSEUM

06/08/2026

You can meet like minded people…..
There are no expectations, just people that care about our local history....
It's time to get involved!!!

The Manilla Historical Society will be holding its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, 20th August 2026

📍Location: 197 Manilla Street, Manilla
🕙 AGM: 1:30 PM followed by General Meeting

All positions are open!

💬 Tag a friend, spread the word, and get involved!

01/07/2026

Dally Messenger established the first Rugby League team in Manilla.

Annie and Dally took over the Royal Hotel on July 12, 1917. Annie’s life was disastrously cut short on June 23, 1919. Annie and Dally both caught the Bubonic Plague/ Flu. (The Bubonic Plague caused the death of more people worldwide than died in World War 1 (1914-18)). Dally survived, Annie didn’t. She was only 42 years of age, her toddler son, was only five. Dally had to sell the hotel and return to Sydney with his young son.

Dead Famous is our special series dedicated to honouring the remark...

01/07/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GKJVFrDxQ/

01/07/2026

📢 Heritage Assistance Grants now open! 📢

Applications are now open to help support property owners who live in a heritage precinct or have a heritage listed building conserve their slice of the region's history🏡

Up to $50,000 shared funding is available to successful applications to support heritage conservation and restoration projects across our region 🔨

Applications close Wednesday 19 August 2026, find out more and apply here: www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au/about/forms/2026-27-heritage-assistance-grant-application-form

26/06/2026

26/06/2026

21/06/2026

Continuing the Heritage Festival 'Change' exhibition object highlights, next is a kerosene railway lamp from the Manilla Heritage Museum.
This kerosene station lamp lit the platform at Manilla Railway Station for many years. Manilla Railway Station first opened in 1899 and was located on a branch off the Main North railway line. The lamps cutout ‘Manilla’ stencil would have been illuminated at night, enabling passengers and rail workers to clearly identify the station after dark. Built for durability, the lamp was designed to withstand harsh weather conditions and long hours of continuous use, providing reliable light at a time when railway operations depended on manual and mechanical systems. This lamp was decommissioned with the arrival of electricity on 23 April 1927.
The transition from kerosene to electric lighting marked a major shift in railway technology, significantly improving visibility, efficiency and safety. Manilla Station itself closed in about 1974, leaving this lamp as a tangible reminder of its working life.
The exhibition is on at the Tamworth Regional Gallery until the 28 June.
Source: Tamworth Regional Council

19/06/2026

Today, on International Day of Light, we recognise the crucial role of light and light-based technologies in various fields, including science, culture, education, and sustainable development.
This International Day of Light, particularly as it falls within the Tamworth Regional Heritage Festival, we would like to honour the large role light played in the history and national recognition of Tamworth, as well as the surrounding towns and their electrical developments. As part of the towns continued move into more street lighting, this opal ball light from 'White Way' Lighting was installed in Manilla in the 1930s. The opal ball lights were to provide continuous ribbon of light along the footpath of the main streets in Tamworth and Manilla. The lights were on stems cut to the appropriate length to make sure they made a continuous line regardless of the height of the shop awnings. At that time lighting for pedestrian movement was more important than providing illumination for the sparse vehicular traffic on the street.
Source: Tamworth Regional Council

19/06/2026

The Railway Signal Tower from South Street which the Manilla Historical Society was given by Transport for NSW some time ago has finally been erected next to the Railway Crane, adjacent to the site of the Manilla Railway Station. Thanks to our Historical Society volunteers, Justin Fox (Fox in the Woods) and his crew, Owen Crieghton for the use of his truck and crane, Geoff Alston and my son Dean for all their invaluable help. The signage and cement slab is to be installed in the near future. The Manilla Historical Society endeavours to preserve Manilla’s History.