Originally known as “Olivene”, this house was built in 1911 for Mr William Ambrose Crawford and his wife Olive (nee White). In 1982, the family sold “Olivene” to Ballina Shire Council and for many years it was used as a Baby Health Centre. It received a new life in 2001 when Council leased the building to the Alstonville Plateau Historical Society. The Society lovingly restored the interior and of
ficially opened it as a Museum on 16 October 2004. Since that time the Society has worked with the local community to obtain objects, archaeological materials, photographs, oral histories and texts which tell the story of Alstonville and surrounding districts. Baby scales used by Nurse Thomas, a wedding dress now on the Powerhouse Dress Register and women’s handicrafts featuring not only tatting but yatting form part of our significant collection. Visitors, groups and students are welcomed by knowledgeable volunteers who bring our changing exhibitions to life. The Research Centre holds an extensive library, text files, a photographic collection and our local history publications are available for purchase.
