RAHS Affiliated Societies continue to play an important role in preserving local history, caring for collections, supporting research, and creating opportunities for communities to connect with their past.
The RAHS runs two grant programs on behalf of the NSW Government: the Create NSW Local History Grants Program, which is currently open for applications until 23 June 2026, and the Transport Heritage Grants Program. These programs support projects involving research, publications, exhibitions, collection management, conservation, and heritage interpretation across NSW.
At the April 2026 meeting of the RAHS Affiliated Societies Committee, members shared their recent grant successes from a variety of funding sources, including Lynne Allen, President of the Shoalhaven Historical Society, and Robyn Atherton, President of the Harden-Murrumburrah Historical Society.
Shoalhaven Historical Society: ‘Embrace every opportunity’
Shoalhaven Historical Society is a highly active organisation combining museum management, research, publications, exhibitions, and collections care. The society operates the Nowra Museum and is well known for its strong publishing program and extensive online bookshop specialising in local history publications relating to the Shoalhaven region – see publications available for purchase.
The society has successfully secured support through a range of funding opportunities over the years, including the Create NSW Cultural Grants Program, which is now known as the Local History Grants Program. One recent success came from a far less expected source, with the society securing support from a United Kingdom-based funding body for conservation work on an important artwork in the museum collection.
President Lynne Allen explains:
‘When a grant opportunity appeared, I initially dismissed it as in the realms of fantasy because it was based in the UK. Why would a UK institution make grant funding available to a small, volunteer-run and funded historical society in regional NSW? However, with my father’s mantra, “You have to be in it to win it”, ringing in my ears, I decided to take the chance.’
The project focused on conserving a deteriorated painting by renowned local artist Samuel Elyard. In 2017, during commemorations marking 200 years since Elyard’s birth, the society received a donation of 24 Elyard paintings, including several rare oil works. A 2025 condition report identified many of the paintings as requiring urgent treatment.
The selected artwork depicts a small sailing boat approaching the Shoalhaven River, with a group of First Nations people gathered around a campfire on the shoreline.
‘Convinced I was wasting my time, but stirred on by the potential of securing £3,000, I persisted and submitted the grant application. Some weeks later, we were stunned to receive an email from the UK confirming success. Miracles do happen, so give it a go.’
Painting by Samuel Elyard (Supplied: Lynne Allen, Shoalhaven Historical Society)
Harden-Murrumburrah Historical Society: ‘Preserving history one grant-funded project at a time’
Harden-Murrumburrah Historical Society plays an important role in preserving and sharing the history of the Hilltops region. The society operates the Harden-Murrumburrah Historical Society Museum, housed in the former 1912 School of Arts building, which features collections relating to railways, farming, mining, local businesses, schools, domestic life, and Australian Light Horse history. The society is also deeply involved in local history research, exhibitions, school engagement, and community partnerships.
The breadth of the society’s work was highlighted in a feature article, ‘Keepers of History’, published in the Twin Town Times in December 2025, which explored the society’s exhibitions, volunteer projects, flood-recovery work, fundraising activities, and ongoing involvement in community life.
Volunteers regularly assist schools and community organisations with research projects, produce seasonal newsletters, and contribute to the Ryerson Index, a major Australian volunteer-run index of death notices and obituaries widely used by family and local history researchers.
Recent activities have included acquiring a circa 1900 sulky built by David Reid & Sons of Murrumburrah for future restoration and display, with support from the Geoffrey Kruger Trust helping fund its purchase, transport, and future refurbishment. Volunteers have also been researching the history of buildings and businesses in Harden’s Neill Street using rate books dating from the 1890s, while the society’s recent Museums & Galleries NSW Volunteer Museum Grant is supporting strategic planning work and a review of the museum collection in partnership with museum consultant Margot Jolly. The society has also hosted an exhibition celebrating local artist Barbara Bullock during the Hilltops Art & Culture Trail and continued flood recovery and collection clean-up work following the devastating 2022 flood.
Recent successful grants have also supported a range of practical museum improvements and community projects. President Robyn Atherton shared a list of the society’s most recent successful grant applications, including:
- Geoffrey Kruger Trust — $3,000
Support for the purchase, transport, and future refurbishment of a locally made circa 1900 sulky.
- Museums & Galleries of NSW ‘Lights On, Doors Open’ Stipend (2023) — $2,000
Support for an energy-efficiency lighting upgrade for the museum.
- Inland Rail Community Grants Program — $2,833.95
Support for technology upgrades within the museum’s archive and research areas.
- Museums & Galleries of NSW Volunteer Museum Grant (2025) — $3,600
Support for strategic planning work and a review of the society’s collection.
- Harden Regional Development Corporation Community Sponsorship — $1,500
Support for the ongoing clean-up of the museum basement following the 2022 flood, undertaken in collaboration with Frontier Services volunteers.
Robyn noted that grants are an important source of funding for volunteer-run organisations, helping societies undertake projects that would otherwise be difficult to achieve through membership fees, donations, and museum income alone.
David Reid & Sons sulky (Supplied: Robyn Atherton, Harden-Murrumburrah Historical Society)
Together, the work of Shoalhaven Historical Society and Harden-Murrumburrah Historical Society demonstrates the creativity, persistence, and dedication of affiliated societies across NSW in seeking support from a wide range of funding sources. From conserving significant artworks and strengthening museum collections to flood recovery work, strategic planning, exhibitions, and research projects, these volunteer-run organisations continue to find practical and innovative ways to preserve and share local history within their communities. As Lynne Allen reflected after securing perhaps the geographically most distant funding source discussed at the meeting, sometimes it is worth embracing every opportunity because ‘you have to be in it to win it.’ The RAHS welcomes other affiliated societies to share their own success stories with us.
