Local history buffs have been collecting stories, documents, artefacts and memorabilia since the History Group was incorporated in 1972. All this is now Manilla’s heritage.
Manilla Heritage Museum is the only Australian site apart from the National Museum of Australia documenting the ground breaking platypus research by Harry Burrell.
Manilla’s first museum opened to the public in 1973, in temporary premises at the southern end of Manilla Street. “Royce Cottage”, now the Manilla Museum, was opened in 1975.
Today, the Manilla community collection is acknowledged as a significant archive of Australian Rural Community History. In April 2012, the Rural Museum extension was officially opened by James Treloar, in appreciation of his interest in Manilla’s rural history and his financial contribution to the project.
