Things are getting busy at BHS over the next few months! Here are a few dates to mark in your calendars.

Open House Melbourne: Saturday July 27 - Sunday July 28

For one weekend each year, significant buildings across Melbourne open their doors to the public. Here in Brighton, our historical civic precinct is once again open to all. Come visit the old Brighton Town Hall and explore the Bayside Gallery, the Brighton Theatre Company, the Brighton Art Society and - of course - the Brighton Historical Society. Then, wander across the gardens and take a self-guided tour of the Bayside City Council Chambers.

BHS will feature displays telling the stories of entertainment in Brighton over the years, wealthy nineteenth century Brighton families, infamous Victorian Premier Thomas Bent and our area's long Indigenous history as part of the lands of the Boon Wurrung people. A number of fabulous evening gowns from our costume collection will also be on display. Our friendly volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and offer advice on how to research your own family's Brighton roots.

We're open on both days from 1pm to 5pm, with free entry.

Brighton Historical Society AGM: Sunday 22 September

Our Annual General Meeting will be held at 2pm on Sunday 22 September. Following the business part of the meeting we will have a guest presentation from Jamie Paterson, a member of Beaumaris Modern. With the mission of celebrating, educating, promoting and preserving the mid-century architecture of Beaumaris, this group has grown organically into a thriving community organisation. It's a wonderful story of grassroots passion and enthusiasm giving rise to a movement to preserve and celebrate part of what makes Beaumaris so unique.

The talk will be followed by a Silver Service afternoon tea. Entry is free, but please RSVP for catering purposes.

Brighton Through History - A Virtual Tour: Wednesday 9 October

As part of the Victorian Seniors Festival and History Week, the Society's rooms will be open to the public from 2 to 4pm for a special 'virtual tour' presentation, a walk down memory lane through some of the iconic buildings and sights from Brighton's history and the stories behind them. Afternoon tea will be served.

Cost is $6 per head. Contact us for bookings.

Ten Stories from our Costume Collection: Sunday 20 October

In 2017, BHS was fortunate to receive a grant from Public Record Office Victoria to assist in recording and preserving the significant items in our costume collection. Annabel Butler and Laura Jocic have been hard at work on the project, shedding light on new stories and hidden treasures along the way. In this presentation, they will tell the stories behind ten of the items they have been researching.

Watch our website and Facebook for more details on bookings.

Image: Children in costume, Brighton Charity Carnival, 1909. BHS collection.