Heritage Centre is open Saturday mornings 9:30am – 11:30am.

The first irrigation pumping station built in 1885 near Murchison, was capable of lifting large volumes of water from the Goulburn River into a brick-receiving bay.

This water supplied many miles of channel systems to the farming district between the Goulburn and Campaspe Rivers, under the control of the United Echuca and Waranga Waterworks Trust. 

Further improvement of the irrigation system occurred with the construction of the Goulburn Weir in 1890. This was the first major water diversion structure in Australia and considered at the time to be of very advanced design.

The concrete structure 212 metres long, raised the water 15 metres above the river bed to allow the water to flow through hundreds of kilometres of supply channels by gravity.

The first hydro-electric turbines in the Southern Hemisphere were also included in the project.

On the 28th of September 1969 at a approximately 10.58am a rare type of stony meteorite fell over the township of Murchison, surprisingly causing only minor damage.

The meteorite was moving in a north-westerly direction before impact and exploded over Murchison with fragments falling over an area approximately 11 kms long and 3 kms wide. Although few people saw the fall, most Murchison residents heard it, with the noise likened to thunder or a sonic boom. From Kialla West it was seen as a bright orange ball with a silvery rim and a dull orange tail, leaving a blue smoke trail which lasted for several minutes.

The Murchison meteorite is a one of the rarest types known and one of the most extensively studied. It is classified as a carbonaceous chondrite - only 1% of all known meteorites are of this type.

It is thought to be at least 4.5 billion years old and formed in the early history of the Solar System.

One of the fascinating features of the Murchison meteorite is the presence of amino acids, the building blocks of DNA, the genetic code in living cells. Some scientists thought they may have represented primitive life forms, although now it is widely accepted that they do not, the Murchison meteorite does show that these complex molecules can exist in space.

When the meteorite was first collected many people commented that it smelt like methylated spirits or kerosene. This is due to pyridine, one of the many organic compounds found in the meteorite.

Visit the Heritage Centre, 4 Stevenson Street, to find out more.

The Heritage Centre is located at 4 Stevenson Street which is the main street of Murchison, in the Riverside Gardens near the intersection of Impey St.

Our aim is to promote, preserve, and present authentic records relating to the history of the area.

The varied and surprising history of the district is represented in our growing collection of documents and historical items housed in the Heritage Centre in Stevenson Street.

Murchison is the oldest European settlement on the lower Goulburn Valley. Its recorded history began in 1838 when the first of many pastoralists Hawden and Bonney, traversed the site on their epic cattle droving journey to Adelaide. Prior to this, the land had been occupied for ages by the Ngurai-illum tribe of Aboriginals. In an attempt to avoid conflict between the two races of people an Aboriginal Protectorate was set up. The system had failed by 1854, when the township was surveyed and named. 

A reliable river punt crossing, then the first town bridge built in 1871 ensured the future growth of the town. Construction of the Trust pumping site near the town in 1885 and later the Goulburn Weir saw the beginning of irrigation.

Many civic-minded residents worked to build a vibrant community in the ensuing years and many of its son's left for active service in the World Wars. During World War 2 the town serviced nearby Prison Camps.

Murchison gained notoriety in 1969 when an ancient meteorite now known as the Murchison Meteorite, fell on the town. Many substantial facilities for sporting and cultural pursuits have been developed in the town through the years due to the efforts of dedicated and community minded residents.

Today, Murchison, although small with a population of 700 continues to be a desirable residential town with a strong community spirit.

The Society welcomes new members. Members can enjoy learning about the surprising and varied history of the area through activities of the Society including excursions, interesting guest speakers, special events, networking with regional historical groups and by being involved in the management of the collection of documents and historical items housed and displayed at the Heritage Centre in Stevenson Street.

Our Aims and Objectives are:  

• To work as an active group dedicated to raising community awareness of all aspects of heritage values in the Murchison district.
• To maintain a heritage resource centre in Murchison to collect, store, promote research, preserve, conserve, collate, record and display relevant material from Aboriginal dreamtime through to the present day for the benefit of future generations.
• To hold, or assist others in holding relevant community events, and mount special displays depicting themes from the past in the Heritage Centre on an ongoing basis.
• To liase and associate with like organisations for the advancement of our mutual interests.
• To engage in fund raising activities to pursue these objectives.

Meetings are generally held on the third Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm at the Heritage Centre. Membership costs $10 per adult, or $20 per family which includes school age children.