Riverina communities will have new opportunities to explore and share their local history through a new partnership between the Museum of the Riverina and Museums of History NSW (MHNSW).
The collaboration, announced during a ceremony at the Museum of the Riverina – Botanic Gardens site, will focus on education, curatorial research and volunteer development, strengthening local access to history while building closer links between the two organisations.
In the partnership's first phase, the Museum of the Riverina will work with MHNSW's education team to develop new school excursion programs for local primary students, alongside digital and video resources to share Riverina stories with audiences across NSW.
A curatorial research partnership will also connect staff from both museums, drawing on their collections and expertise to deepen understanding of Riverina history and inform future exhibitions.
Museums of History NSW Chief Executive Officer Annette Pitman said the partnership is about making history more accessible at a local level.
"Regional museums are where community stories are kept alive," Ms Pitman said.
"This partnership is about working together to support local volunteers, students, curators and researchers, making it easier for people across the Riverina to access and share their history."
Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Dallas Tout said the collaboration will deliver real benefits for the local community.
"We welcome this opportunity for Museum of the Riverina staff to collaborate with the expert education and collections teams at Museums of History, generating tangible outcomes for our community," Cr Tout said.
"This partnership will generate resources that can be shared by Museums of History to their statewide audience.
"It strengthens what we already do, while connecting our community with the knowledge, collections and expertise of Museums of History NSW.
"Watch this space for new school programs, and for upcoming exhibitions about previously untold Riverina stories."
Wagga Wagga already hosts one of MHNSW's Regional Archives Centres, based at Charles Sturt University, providing access to State archives relating to the Riverina and surrounding regions.
The partnership builds on that presence by strengthening collaboration between local and state institutions and reflects MHNSW's broader commitment to supporting regional museums and communities across NSW.
The initiative delivers on a commitment in the NSW Government's Heartland: A plan for regional NSW arts, culture and creative industries 2026-2035 and will operate as a pilot partnership to inform future collaborations across regional NSW.
