Maclean Museum

Maclean Museum Maclean District Historical Society collects stories, photos and family information so we can show our past history to future generations ( CLOSED XMAS)

We are a volunteer museum and historical Society where we showcase our past- for the future. We collect and also share the information, photos and family histories we store. (Research fee applies) We welcome anyone with a similar interest.

HISTORY WEEK 2026-Wanted for our records: Stories of the MV Beardmore for a planned display- email to museum@macleanhist...
04/09/2026

HISTORY WEEK 2026-Wanted for our records: Stories of the MV Beardmore for a planned display- email to [email protected].

04/09/2026

History Week starts 5th September.
Theme: Keeping Stories

PhotosCane exhibition showing shin sticks, trip hooks and gauging rodsTwo sides of 1893 medal from Maclean Show for loca...
25/08/2026

Photos
Cane exhibition showing shin sticks, trip hooks and gauging rods
Two sides of 1893 medal from Maclean Show for locally made sugar samples
One of the strengths of the Maclean Museum is its collection of artefacts relating to the Lower Clarence sugar cane industry. There is a current exhibition of cane industry photographs and a model of past cane festival queens in her regalia.
The permanent exhibitions include examples of the "gauging rods" used on the cane punts to measure how much water was displaced by the cane loaded into the punt. This enabled a calculation of the weight of the cane from which it was determined how much the farmers and cane cutters were paid. This system was used from the 1870s to the 1970s when river transport ceased.
The collection also includes examples of "trip hooks" used on cane derricks. Adam Albert from Tyndale developed the derrick as a means of loading bundles of cane into punts rather than having to carry it in armfuls or with a "shin stick" held against the body. When a bundle of cane was wrapped by wire rope attached to the derrick and lifted from a cart, the derrick was moved to position it over the punt. The trip hook was then released by throwing a stick of cane at it, dropping the cane bundle into the punt.
Mr Albert built a prototype around 1913 and derricks were rolled out across the banks of the Clarence cane fields in the 1920s. He spent much time perfecting the trip mechanism and expert derrickmen got very good at hitting it.
Amongst the many smaller items is one of the earliest medals from the Lower Clarence Agricultural Society - the Maclean Show. It was awarded in 1893 to Alex Anderson for a "collection of raw sugar" from his private mill at Warregah Island.

The Maclean Museum is open Tuesday 9.00am to 12noon, Wednesday 1.00 to 4.00 pm and Saturday 1.00 to 4.00pm

The Evan Fischer Trophy Collection.Maclean has a long and distinguished record of involvement in rowing and sculling.A v...
16/08/2026

The Evan Fischer Trophy Collection.

Maclean has a long and distinguished record of involvement in rowing and sculling.

A very fine collection of silver trophies is on display to commemorate Evan Fischer's time as World Champion sculler from 1953 to 1957. His 1950 Clarence River Championship Cup is also on display.

From his school boy days Evan Fischer regularly rowed a flat-bottomed boat from Chatsworth Island to Woombah School for himself and his siblings. His grandmother was a sister of the great Henry Searle (1866-89), world champion sculler in the 1880s.

Retiring as World Champion at the age of 26 in 1958, Fischer was undefeated and continued to hold both the large official RC Hagon Cup as well as his personal trophy. Fischer's backing in the championships came from the people of Maclean and he returned some of his winnings to the community, so it is fitting that his trophy collection is now on display at the Maclean Museum.

You can also see an original Butcher's Boat and a racing skiff displayed in the museum, and other items relating to Maclean High School rowing over the years.

The Maclean Museum currently has an exhibition of Girl Guides uniforms, badges, photographs and other artefacts. Based o...
10/08/2026

The Maclean Museum currently has an exhibition of Girl Guides uniforms, badges, photographs and other artefacts. Based on the collections of Robyne Plater, who has been active in the Guides all her life as well as encouraging her children and grandchildren to belong as well, the display includes a Camp Blanket and a hat covered in dozens of Guides badges.

Display books include extensive information about the activities of the Maclean Girl Guides, including a 1947 letter addressed to "My dear Guides of Maclean" from Olave Baden-Powell (1889-1977). At the time Baroness Baden-Powell was World Chief Guide and touring Australia. She wrote from Grafton that "it was jolly seeing you here at the Rally today", and referred to earlier correspondence she had written from England to the Maclean Guides.

The Brownies were also active in Maclean and the display includes a uniform from 1941. It belonged to seven-year-old Phyllis Phelps. There is a collection of excellent Brownies Diaries dating from 1940 to 1960 written by Miss Melba Eagleton known as "Barn Owl".

MV Beardmore on the water. Looks even better today in the shed- new paint job, spruced up- so thankful for all the help ...
23/06/2026

MV Beardmore on the water. Looks even better today in the shed- new paint job, spruced up- so thankful for all the help to get the vessel on the NSW Heritage List! Now the hard work begins! Watch this space!

19/06/2026

MV BEARDMORE: Info: Boat gifted to MDHS by Nungera Co-op for the WHOLE Lower Clarence Community.
Owned by museum, held at the mill in a shed built with grant from Maclean Rotary.

19/06/2026

Our Heritage listing for the Beardmore has been accepted by the Minister!! We have done it! Thank you all the wonderful people out there who put in a submission to support our submission! Well done to all of us.đź‘Źđź‘Ź

Big shout out to our newest top fans! đź’ŽEvelyn McPherson, Greg WatsonDrop a comment to welcome them to our community, fa...
22/04/2026

Big shout out to our newest top fans! đź’Ž

Evelyn McPherson, Greg Watson

Drop a comment to welcome them to our community, fans

This photo belonging to Bill Caldwell of the 1967 flood shows the fig tree ( removed in 1986).Maclean Showground in floo...
19/04/2026

This photo belonging to Bill Caldwell of the 1967 flood shows the fig tree ( removed in 1986).
Maclean Showground in flood is nowhere as great a picture as the real thing! Starting tomorrow, the really big day is Wednesday-COME TO THE SHOW!

Address

Corner Of Wharf And Grafton Streets
Maclean, NSW
2463

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 12pm
Wednesday 1pm - 4pm
Saturday 1pm - 4pm

Telephone

0266453416

Website

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