Join us for a meet & greet with Kim Bagot-Hillier to open the exhibition ‘A new landscape: Gardening from 1850 – 1950’
I am a passionate creative, artist, printmaker based in Bathurst NSW. I have been practicing for 18 years with the past 12 year I have embracing heritage aspects of artistic practice on printmaking and illustration as well as the storytelling of historical events, and people. As an artist my practice gives me the opportunity to become a storyteller, communicator, and a teacher through the worlds of plants and now history and heritage. My practice has evolved through my interests in Botany, and scientific interpretation of plants to storytelling of heritage and history through plants and flowers. (Kim Bagot-Hillier)
This exhibition explores the changing landscapes of gardens from colonial times to post-World War II. This exhibition is inspired by the artistic representation of plants, flowers and gardens within art, gardening magazines, flower seed catalogues and print from the 1850’s through to the 1950’s. A 100 year journey of how the Landscapes changed and gardens evolved.
An exhibition to celebrate women in sport for IWD2025:Marching Forward for all Women and Girls
Thelma McKenzie (nee Murden) was born at Wallerawang in 1915 and lived in Lithgow during her school years. Her adult life was spent in Annandale were she began playing cricket. Thelma McKenzie died on the 12 January 2019 in Los Angeles, USA.
This exhibition features Thelma McKenzie’s uniforms, cricket gear, photographs, and documents from her cricketing career as a member of the Australian International Women’s Cricket squad in 1948, as the regular wicketkeeper for the NSW State cricket team and for Annandale Cricket Club, and as a local sportswoman.
Thelma Murden played in the first Women’s Football game in Lithgow.
The exhibition runs from 8 March to 6 April 2025 during museum open hours Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm
Museum entry fees apply $5.50, $2.50 concession & group bookings
We celebrate the cultural diversity and rich heritage of the Lithgow LGA
1824 was a very significant year in Colonial NSW history. The Legislative Assembly met for the first time in August 1824 and the infamous declaration of Martial Law was proclaimed in August 1824.
This exhibition will feature the objects and framed works held by Eskbank House Museum with connections to our local pioneers from this colonial time period and look at some initial and continuing local participation in political activities over time.
Exhibition dates: 9 October 2024 to 1 December 2024
Eskbank House Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Entry fees are $5.50 full, $2.50 concession and under 6 years free
We will celebrate the cultural diversity and rich heritage of the Lithgow LGA
Smart inventions: technology before the Smartphone ….. how did we meet up with our friends? Catch the 7:25 train? Listen to music? Share a photo memory? Share our ideas?
On exhibition at the museum are clocks and watches, gramophones and radios, cameras and photo albums, telephones, film and slide projectors, typewriters and adding machines.
Eskbank House Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm.
Museum entry fees apply $5 and $2.50 concession, children under 6 are free
As part of the annual care of collection process for framed works, you are invited to view ‘The Bracey Collection: Up Close’. The framed works and ceramic objects will be on exhibition in the Courtyard Gallery and Breakfast Room at Eskbank House Museum during March 2024. The Bracey Collection was unveiled at the museums opening on the 21 November 1966 and is usually on permanent display in the front section of the museum but only seen at a distance from the door of each room.
Eric Bracey (1886 – 1968), a prominent businessman, became interested in Australian history in the 1940s and decided to fund a Lithgow building to preserve local history. He funded the purchase of Eskbank House from Australian Iron & Steel Company in 1948, paying £300. Bracey, with the aid of the Lithgow District Historical Society, began restoring the property and transforming it into a museum.
Inspired by Vaucluse House in Sydney, Bracey sought furniture and objects to represent a domestic environment typical of Thomas and Mary Brown’s time (1800s). Many of the antiques were sourced from a well-known and influential dealer, William (Bill) Bradshaw (1922 – 2009) of Woollahra.
At Eskbank House Museum, 1 Bennett Street, Lithgow Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm
Market Harvest Day, produce from Mary’s Garden A community heritage garden at Eskbank House
Thursday is harvest day at Mary’s Garden, a community heritage garden at Eskbank House Museum
The produce basket will be loaded and placed on the table at the entrance to Eskbank House Museum at approximately 1.30 pm each Thursday. We’ll post a photo of what’s available on the day.
If you pop by feel free to check out the garden and ask the volunteer gardening team any questions you might have. The garden team are in attendance every Thursday and are happy to harvest for you if there is something that catches your eye. Eskbank House Museum is open from 10 am – 4 pm Wednesday to Sunday.
