By Callum Ludwig
The Mont De Lancey Historic Homestead recently celebrated 30 years since the opening of its museum.
Originally opened on March 14 1993, the museum became the new home of ‘The Wandin Collection’ a collection of items gathered from the pioneering families of Wandin.
President of the Mont De Lancey Historic Homestead Museum Jill Sebire, whose husband’s family were one of the pioneering families, said 30 years is quite a feat.
“30 years is a long time for volunteers to keep something going, and it was really nice to see some of the original people that started the whole thing,” she said.
Annette and Neville Lord pushed for the opening of the museum, convincing Graeme, Eileen, Olive and Lance Sebire to help chip in for the purchase of the Mont De Lancey homestead and three acres of land on Wellington Road.
Ms Sebire said the museum continues to be important because if you lose your history, you don’t get it back.
“Eventually, there’s no one left to tell you what happened, so it is important especially as we’ve got lots of family histories here because there are still a lot of people in the district that descend from the pioneering people,” she said.
“I know the Sebire’s are obviously all interested, but there are a lot of others and I think younger people are looking now to find who was who in the beginning, because it was a big job to come and clear the land and start off and we’ve reaped the benefits of it.”
After the homestead and land were purchased, the Wandin & District Historical Museum Society was formed, with Fred Gaudion appointed as the first president and about $200,000 went on to be raised to help establish it.
Builder Ray Johnston, electrician Rob Johnston and plumber Keith Ross all played a big role in the conversion and maintenance of the site to what it is today.
Annette and Neville Lord and Olive Sebire made Mont De Lancey the beneficiaries of their estate, with their generous contribution a substantial part of the continued works, upgrades and additions to the site over the years.
Long-time president Gordon Champam AM and original volunteers Edna and Gwen Parker from the Rouget and Blanksby families were in attendance for the 30th anniversary and had the honours of cutting the cake.
