Community Museums

Victoria has over 740 community museums, two thirds in regional towns and cities. Together they hold an estimated that 1.5 million cultural heritage items their collections. The volunteers who care for these collections operate on average annual budgets of less than $5,000.

Community museums are rich and valued community assets. They are:

• local and regional museums
• historical societies
• Indigenous keeping places
• mechanics institutes
• archives
• botanic gardens and
• genealogical societies

that strengthen and support their communities by:

• collecting and caring for unique, historic artefacts
• documenting stories about who we are and where we've come from
• shaping and celebrating cultural identity
• facilitating community education and lifelong learning
• encouraging volunteering and participation in public life
• creating opportunities for cultural tourism and regional growth.