winton matilda centre

The Winton District Historical Society was formed on 20 March 1970. The committee of the day could see the need to preserve our history, through the collection of historic items from within the shire.  On 17 August 1972, Qantilda Pioneer Place museum was opened in a small brick building, formerly the premises of the local accountant.

Today the Society operates as the Winton District Historical Society and Museum Inc.. We have outgrown the original site, and eight buildings now make up the complex, known as Qantilda Museum. Since 1998, we have shared pride of place with the Waltzing Matilda Centre.  A single admission fee gives visitors access to the whole complex.

Our Collection now extends to over five thousand exhibits. Please take time to view this fascinating collection ranging from early dinosaur, aboriginal, pioneer, opal mining to present day objects.  Come and see what granny used, to do the washing, ironing and cooking.  How do you think you would have survived in the late 1800's or early 1900's, or even the 1930's.

The Historical Society, run by a group of dedicated volunteers, oversees the Collection and makes decisions on new acquisitions.  Our policy is to accept only artefacts that relate to the history of the Shire. We love to hear the story behind an object, to bring our history alive.

Eric Barton Bryce, late of 'Colston' in the Winton District, constructed this Merry-Go-Round from materials on hand on the property in 1959, being completed in time for a fund raising event to raise money for a hot water system for the then Children's Hostel in Winton.

Merry-go-round upon arrival

Merry-go-round restored

The differential for driving the Merry- Go- Round came from a solid wheel truck, an old Republic, which was rusting away at the bore on Wirrabee Plain. Eric was given permission by the manager of Bladensburg, Mr. Noel Corsbie, to take whatever he needed from the truck.

All other parts were found in Eric's "might come in handy some rainy day" pile down by his workshop. No new materials were purchased for the making of The-Merry- Go- Round.

Eric had never had any formal engineering or mechanical training but planned the design from an idea he had. It is interesting to note that he didn't have to make any changes to his original design once constructed. It had worked just as he planned it in his head.

It was used extensively by his five children who, when the motor was not attached, took it in turns to push it around manually. Such was the perfect mechanics that it would spin for ages before having to boost it's momentum.

It was the most popular place in the playground at parties for all the neighbouring children.

When his son Ross took over the running of 'Colston' his children too enjoyed the pleasures of The Merry- Go- Round.

Marjorie Bryce, together with her family, has much pleasure in donating this Merry-Go-Round to the people of Winton as a legacy to the ingenuity of her husband Eric.

The Winton District Historical Society & Museum Inc. members were deeply shocked to hear of the passing of long serving President Barb Howard. Barb had been President of the Society for the last seven years and was on the committee for quite a long time prior to taking on the Presidency.

Barb was extremely dedicated to the Museum and was a quiet achiever. She was often down there working away at some project or another while the rest of the committee was unaware of her activities. Something just suddenly appeared somewhere. We would go to a meeting and ask what happened to a particular display and she would say “Oh Lorraine and I just tidied that up and put it in another area, it is now in ….”

She had a quiet sense of humour and one would have to be very careful or you would find you were the subject of her joke.

Oh yes she could be frustrating. She persisted in not replying to messages on her phone. She may ring you back a couple of weeks later only to find that you had forgotten what you rang about anyway!! Then when you sorted that out she would say “Why didn’t you just attend to it anyway?”

One of the things we will miss most I think is the wonderful way she organized our Xmas break up and A.G.M dinners. Those lovely apple pies with ice cream and cream, the comradeship which she encouraged at working bees, the way she displayed such optimism and the positive attitude she displayed during the last couple of months of her life.

Oh yes, we will miss her and will always remember her contribution to the Historical Society and indeed to the whole of our community of Winton and district.

Our sincere sympathy goes out to her family.