Boronia
Boronia is a modest cottage that is representative of the Federation era.
Doulton Jug
Pottery jug made at Doulton factory, Chatswood

Mashman Regal Artware
Buz Builder Set #5
BUZ Builder Sets and BUZ Gear Sets, which from 1954 were manufactured at the Buzza Products factory in the Artarmon Industrial Area within Willoughby.
From Home to Museum Exhibition
Guests at From Home to Museum exhibition
Buz Gear Set 1
Part of a collection of 13 objects, together with family photographs, BUZ Builder catalogues and promotional material, is one of the most significant in our collection.
Buz Spare Parts Display Panel
Collectively, Buzza Products help to tell the story of the entrepreneurial flair and ingenuity of Gus and Vic Kraus who established the firm Buzza Products to manufacture Morse code sets for the Australian and US Armies during World War II.

Kitchen at 'Boronia'

Trade Tools: Joinery

Ronson collection of Regal Mashman pottery

Singer Model 20 Sewing Machine

013 Mignon 4 Typewriter
About
WILLOUGHBY MUSEUM operated by the Willoughby District Historical Society is housed in the 1913 Federation cottage, Boronia, at 58 Johnson Street Chatswood (Sydney, Australia).
There are a number of permanent exhibitions within the Museum plus an annual exhibition. The current annual exhibition celebrates the Centenary of Boronia and Federation Chatswood. It explores the South Chatswood Convervation Area over the past 100 years.
The Museum focuses on four core themes:
- Local industries and working lives
- Domestic life
- Towns, suburbs and villages
- Immigration and ethnic influences
1. Local industries and working livesDisplays feature objects and photographs of the specific industries that helped build Willoughby’s economy and provided employment for its residents. In particular, they explore the history of the Mashman and Eaton potteries, our tanneries, the Buzza Products and Speedo factories in Artarmon, and the Hallstrom refrigerator factory in Willoughby.
2. Domestic life: Displays in the kitchen explore the domestic work experiences of Willoughby residents from all socio-economic strata during the late 19th and 20th centuries. The focus is on the diversity and unique characteristics of Willoughby.
3. Towns, suburbs and villages: We are developing improved presentations that will explore the factors that shaped the patterns of settlement in Willoughby, particularly urban development since the 1890s. The railway and tramway were key drivers of urban settlement from the 1890s, while more recently the private car and freeways have brought new challenges for local residents.
4. Immigration and Ethnic Influences: While the Chinese have played a significant role as market gardeners since the 1870s, post-war migrations brought a dramatic influx of divergent ethnic groups to Willoughby City, notably Armenians, Italians, Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, Poles, Iranians and Indians since the 1950s. We will be exploring this theme through temporary exhibitions over the coming years.
Check out our schedule of MEETING, TOURS & EVENTS
The Willoughby District Historical Society (WDHS) Inc. was established in February 1974 to encourage the study and appreciation of the history of the Municipality of Willoughby.
The Willoughby local government area (LGA) is located on Sydney’s Lower North Shore with the regional centre of Chatswood at its heart. Details of the Willoughby LGA (now the City of Willoughby) are provided on the Willoughby History & Heritage page.
Our mission is to research and conserve the rich tapestry of Willoughby’s past. Our volunteers maintain local history records, study Willoughby’s social, cultural and industrial history, organise exhibitions and tours so that others can understand and appreciate the community’s past.
TheWilloughby Museum is located in the 1913 Federation cottage, Boronia, located at 58 Johnson Street in Chatswood. It explores the economic, social and environmental history of Willoughby City through permanent and temporary exhibitions.Meetingsfeaturing speakers on historical subjects are held at 2.00pm on the second Saturday of alternate months from February.
Contact
(02) 9410 3203
Email Us
Visit our web site
Entry Fees
Adult $5.00
Concession $4.00
Children $2.00
Family $10.00
Links

Getting There

‘Boronia’
Chatswood
Opening Hours
Sunday
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
These opening hours are from January to the end of November. Other opening hours by appointment only
The Museum Shop
The Willoughby Museum is expanding the range of products available through its shop, which currently includes books and postcards that are available to purchase on site.
Rear Garden
The rear garden displays indigenous plants as well as various other items from the Museum's collection such as main products from the pottery works, sewage pipes, chimney pots and tiles.