VISITORS to the Millicent-based South East Family History Group on Sunday can have a close look at a rare and newly-acquired collection of historic photographs.
The Osborne Collection will be the drawcard to the history group which will hold an open day from 10am to 4pm.
History group research coordinator and Millicent Living History National Trust committee member Colleen Hammat said the family had donated 12 albums of photographs to the Living History Museum.
According to Ms Hammat, the albums had been assembled by Bert Osborne, a member of a pioneering English family who had arrived in the Millicent district in the 19th century.
She said Mr Osborne died around 24 years ago at the age of 83 and the collection had passed to his widow Lille.
The final portion of her life was spent in an aged care facility and she died in 2015 at the age of 97.
“Her estate has now passed them on to the National Trust,” Ms Hammat.
“Not only are there family photographs, there are also many scenes of boating and social activities at Lake Bonney.
“There are also images of the Millicent township in the 1920s and 1930s.”
The Millicent National Trust Living History Museum lost a significant portion of its collection due to the presumed actions of an arsonist in May, 2005 when its office was destroyed by fire.
Meanwhile, skilled researchers will be on hand at the Millicent Research Centre on Sunday to provide help with online and other resources.
There will be opportunities to search the history group’s photograph data base and provide tips if researchers are stuck on compiling their family trees.
The group’s resource centre in the 109-year-old former Millicent Primary School has access to worldwide records.
Picture: OSBORNE COLLECTION
