The Geelong Heritage Centre celebrated the visit of the 100,000th visitor since opening in its new location at the Geelong Library & Heritage Centre two years ago.

The Geelong Heritage Centre holds valuable resources to assist visitors with their interests and research including genealogy records, local history records, reference works, newspapers, maps, plans, paintings and photographs, much of which has been digitized or microfilmed for convenient access. Since moving into the new building, visitation has exceeded even the most hopeful forecasts with tens of thousands of people visiting the beautifully-appointed reading room and enjoying the combination of skilled staff, the latest digital technology and a wealth of historical records that combine to bring the past alive.

On Wednesday 29 November, students from St Mary’s Primary School visited the Heritage Centre and their visit created the 100,000 visitors milestone. To celebrate the occasion, the Heritage Centre presented the primary school students and teachers with a selection of ten significant Australian History books suitable for primary school aged readers.

Chair of the Geelong Regional Library Corporation, Cr Margot Smith, says that it is fitting that school students were the visitors to achieve this significant milestone. “Visitation to the Heritage Centre by primary and secondary school students has increased significantly since the Heritage Centre relocated to its new premises in the Geelong Library & Heritage Centre. This is in large part due to the terrific interactive digital offer that the students enjoy using. This new digital technology combined with the improved opportunities for exhibiting treasures, has helped to bring the past to life for young people and adults alike.”

“We are very pleased that the children and teachers from St Mary’s Primary School were able to participate in this celebration of what is a very significant milestone for the Heritage Centre” Cr Smith said.

The Geelong Heritage Centre has hosted visits from national and international tourists and is an important place to visit for people engaged in the increasingly popular cultural tourism. Events run regularly at the Heritage Centre, allowing people new to historical research to learn about the abundant resources available to assist them in their quest to find out more about the past.