Events




 

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of Gadubanud Country, Elders past and present.  We respectfully acknowledge that we work and live on the lands of the Gadubanud nation on which these events are being held.

 

Upcoming events:

We look forward to welcoming the following groups in March 2024 -

The U3A, Apollo Bay members

Boort  District P-12 School

The Gellibrand Progress Association member

Past events:

We are pleased to announce an event which will feature a talk by Norman Houghton, Historian, Author and ODHS member, on the history of Otway Hotels.

In addition, the four history rooms will be open including the Remember When exhibition and the Sawmill room which has a replica operating model of Pile Siding.

We will be welcoming members of the Forrest Historical Society as well as local community and ODHS members.   All are very welcome.

Date: Sunday 26 February 2023 

Place: ODHS History Rooms, Cliff Young Drive, Beech Forest

 

Another successful event at Beech Forest!  

Anthony Zappelli delivers the Cliff Young talk

The Beechy railway line

 
 

Launch of the Beech Forest Walking & Driving tour
Rate collection room, now Timber Sawmill room


 Sunday 25 Sept 2022

Once again we will be opening the doors to the history rooms at Beech Forest to coincide with the Gellibrand Golden Gumboots Beech Forest Day on Sunday 25 Sept.  We will also be celebrating the life of Cliff Young, and the Beechy Railway as well as launching the Beech Forest Walking and Driving Tour and signage which has been co-funded by the Colac Otway Shire.

Image result for colac Otway Shire logo
 

In addition to the Golden Gumboot Hunt join us at the Cliff Young commemorative boot where Anthony Zappelli, will share some stories of the life of his friend and neighbour.  Follow this with a historic walk down Cliff Young Drive to view the newly installed history informative signs or wander into the history rooms for the Remember When, the Railway Exhibition and more.  
 

Refreshments will be available.
Join us for this celebration
When: 25 September from 10.00 – 3.00pm; Cliffy talk & launch 1.00pm
Where: Beech Forest Community Hall, Beech Forest

Save the date!  Sunday 25 September Otway Districts Historical Society Open day, commemorating Cliff Young to coincide with the Hunt Golden Gumboots event and the launch of the Beech Forest Walking and Driving Tour.  More information to follow soon.


 

 

 

 

Monday 25 April 2022

Anzac Day Service & Luncheon

The 80th anniversary of the massacre of Australian Nurses in WW2.  Special exhibition of war memorabilia, historic artefacts, photographic images and more.

Service commences at 11 am, Beech Forest Hall, Cliff Young Drive, Beech Forest

 

Saturday 9th April 2022

Beech Forest Community Market from 2pm and Barn Dance from 6pm, including 100 year Hall celebration with hall history display.

LIVE  band and lucky door prizes, Tickets $25 Kids 12 & under free! Ticket includes BBQ dinner.

The Remember When exhibition, hall display and history panels will remain on show and open to the public on Sundays 2-4pm throughout January 2022.

 Sunday 12 December 2021

Remember when...an afternoon of Otway History - incorporating 100 year celebration of the Beech Forest Hall, Otway History Panels launch and more...

Another fabulous day in our beautiful hall and history rooms, with many community members and visitors.  Our guests were welcomed by Anthony Zappelli and we were privileged to have the Colac Otway Shire Mayor, Kate Hanson launch the history panels, with Cr Stephen Hart also in attendance.  Will Beale entertained us with his memories of the hall in honour of the 100 year celebration and there was a magnificent high tea.

 

 

Community open day, 31 January 2021

On Sunday 31 January we took the opportunity to open the doors of the History Rooms during the Beech Forest Community Market Day. 

We were pleased to welcome so many community members to our permanent display and also to view a special textile display which included the very special Otways Federation quilt.   The quilt provides a textile-based journey into the past, chronicling the story of settlement of the Otways region.  The embroidered panels relate to local people from areas around Beech Forest and Gellibrand, listed either by full names or initials, many of whom worked under harsh conditions to survey land holdings, roads and the railway. 

Community Open Day, 18 April 2021

Display of our new postcard collection featuring some of our unique historic photographic images, gift cards featuring local landscapes and a collection of original postcards.

 

Anzac Day - April 25 2021, 11am 

Modern Day Solider exhibition

Anzac Day Service 2021

 We were pleased to welcome the community and others to the annual Beech Forest Anzac Day service, lunch and the Modern Soldier special exhibition which will remain available for viewing until May 25 2021