Liam McNally
A work celebrating the History of Melton was celebrated at the The Victorian Community History Awards.
The Victorian Premier’s History Award was the top accolade of the night, and went to Vandemonians: The Repressed History of Colonial Victoria by Janet McCalman.
The book recounting the lives of 200 convicts transported to Port Phillip in the 1800s was awarded $5000.
The City of Melton 150th Anniversary Online Exhibition, by Way Back When and City of Melton won the Digital Storytelling Award.
The online exhibition offers audiences a deep exploration of the area’s rich history and thriving community.
The exhibition was created in honour of Melton reaching its 150th year in 2021.
Way Back When consulting historians and the City of Melton worked together with web designer Dimity Mapstone to create the exhibition which can be viewed for free online.
The judges of the event commended the work for being comprehensive, user friendly, and including a range of digitised primary sources including photographs, maps, museum artifacts, ephemera, and historical and contemporary artworks.
“This entry embodies the idea of ‘Victorian Community History’ by using digital technology in an accessible manner to share the heritage of the Shire of Melton,” they said.
“The researchers have worked successfully with local historical societies and council collections to select and interpret items. An empowering narrative addresses Indigenous histories and contributions, past and present. This project helps members of the Melton community engage with their local natural and built heritage.”
The award came with $1500 in prize money.
The Victorian Community History Awards are presented by Public Record Office Victoria in partnership with the Royal Historical Society of Victoria to recognise the contributions made by Victorians in the sharing and preservation of the state’s history.
