The first round of the 2026 Volunteer Museum Grant Program, administered by Museums & Galleries of NSW, was assessed on 27 May 2026 by an independent three-member assessment panel.
The panel considered 21 applications from volunteer-run museums and Aboriginal cultural centres across New South Wales, awarding funding to 13 organisations.
Successful applications demonstrated clear alignment with their organisation’s strategic plan and collection policy, with projects addressing both immediate priorities and long-term sustainability. The panel also recognised applicants that demonstrated strong planning, organisational capacity, and the ability to successfully deliver and maintain the proposed outcomes.
Grossmann House awarded $2,450.46
Installation of a new fit-for-purpose museum gallery hanging system, snap frames for labels in the Cecily Mitchell Gallery at Brough House, Maitland – a museum run by volunteers of the National Trust of Australia NSW (NTA).
Sulphide Street Station Railway and & Historical Museum awarded $2,982.00
To install audio handsets that will enable the visitor, through oral history, to emphasise with migrants, train drivers and nurses that are part of Broken Hill’s fantastic history that is recognised within the museum complex.
Kangaroo Valley Pioneer Museum awarded $978.72
To create an exciting display, for public viewing, of the processing cycle of the historic Maize and Rye Grass Industries operated in Kangaroo Valley.
Headlie Taylor Header Museum awarded $4,000.00
To engage Bruce Brown of Mental Media to develop a detailed Digital Strategy for the Headlie Taylor Header Museum. The Strategy will review current Digital Assets and develop options for accumulation, rationalisation, preservation, retrieval and dissemination to the widest possible audience, making the museum, collections and its stories highly visible.
Tumut & District Historical Society Museum awarded $2,982.00
To engage Art & Archival, Queanbeyan to carry out the necessary stabilisation and conservation of the Visitor’s Book.
Nowra Museum awarded $2,250.00
The project is to engage a conservator, Kristel Smits of KS Art, to conserve four photographic albums created by renowned local photographer, Cyrus Moss, to ensure their long-term survival for future generations.
Tarella Cottage Museum awarded $3,020.00
To engage Tegan Anthes, Collection Care Consultant to hold a one-day workshop, ‘Caring for Paper Based Collections’ for the Blue Mountains Museums.
Port Macquarie Museum awarded $1,735.29
To engage a graphic designer to design and produce introductory interpretive panels at the Port Macquarie Museum.
Woolpack Inn Museum, Holbrook awarded $2,334.55
Installation of secure display cabinets will open the dining room to visitors, improving access and presentation while protecting valuable silverware and china. The project enhances preservation, reduces maintenance, and creates a more engaging, inclusive visitor experience for the community.
Batemans Bay Heritage Museum awarded $4,000.00
From Middens to Markets will develop a curated exhibition exploring the region’s cultural and economic history, from First Nations oyster use to contemporary community exchange. The project will enhance display infrastructure, strengthen community engagement, and support improved collection care and interpretation at the Batemans Bay Heritage Museum.
Cooma Monaro Railway Museum awarded $3,981.19
Establish a practical and sustainable approach to documenting and managing the Cooma Monaro Railway collection through improved cataloguing, photographic records, and archival storage, supporting better preservation, interpretation and long-term access.
Nimbin Aquarius Museum awarded $4,000.00
To engage local professional historian and museum consultant Dr Kate Gahan to prepare a Strategic Plan for the Aquarius Archives in Nimbin.
Dorothea Mackellar Centre awarded $3,077.00
To upgrade the Dorothea Mackellar Centre exhibition display boards that better inform visitors of the legacy of the famous Australian poet and the history of her family’s connection to Gunnedah 1905-1940.
Round 2: Open 13 July 2026 – Closes 6 September 2026
The Volunteer Museum Grant is a Museum & Galleries of NSW program.
