The original Building was built around 1835 as a shop and dwelling, from hand made bricks, and represents the style and scale of development when free settlement was permitted.
Located directly off our entrance foyer, the Foundation Room tells the story of Port Macquarie's beginnings, from its home to the Birpai people, its British discovery in 1818, settlement as a penal colony in 1821, through to free settlement from 1830.
The Heritage Gallery contains our collection of firearms, a display about Port Macquarie Gaol, and also houses temporary exhibitions. Currently on display is Clarence Street, showcasing some of our treasured costumes, objects, photographs and ephemera.
This room contains our very own in-ground water tank. View objects from early domestic life in this display, as well as tools and implements used in the everyday life of our first settlers.
Browse the shop windows of Victorian days, and view the fine display of artefacts used by the free settlers and later residents.
From the street of shops you enter the Costume Gallery which displays original ladies' fashions and household textiles from Victorian times until the early 1900s. Also view the beautiful garments in the cedar chest of drawers that are from the same period.
Journey now into the South Gallery where there is displayed a fine collection of tools and artefacts from various trades and occupations of the late Victorian and Federation periods. This gallery is also home to a model of Innes House, and a number of historical artefacts. This display depicts a significant period of Port Macquarie's early history..
The external courtyards contain some examples of equipment, machinery and farm implements from early periods, including an old horse powered sugar cane crusher (Port Macquarie was the site for Australia's first sugar cane crop).There are also beds from the old gaol infirmary, grinding stones from the old windmill, and other industrial pieces.
The kitchen displays a collection of domestic utensils, crockery, furniture and bric-a-brac including a Coolgardie safe. Can you see something special about the wall clock ?
Upstairs from the entrance foyer are the living quarters for the original shop. The parlour, dining room, bedroom and nursery contain a number of fine furniture pieces, household textiles and objects from the early settlement onwards.
