The Collingwood Historical Society has as its area of
interest the former City of
Collingwood,
that is, the suburbs now known as Abbotsford, Clifton Hill, and Collingwood.
This municipal district came into existence when the
municipality of
East
Collingwood was proclaimed on
24 April 1855.At that time it included the areas which
came to be known as Abbotsford and Collingwood, but within a few months the
district had also annexed Clifton Hill, and the first election was held in
October 1855.
Collingwood was thus the
second metropolitan municipal council to be established (after
South Melbourne) and the first outside the Corporation of
Melbourne boundaries.
It was called
East Collingwood because at that time the term
Collingwood also included much of the area now known as Fitzroy.
Collingwood became a Town in 1873 (dropping the already
redundant prefix "East"), with a population of around 19,000. By 1876 the
population had increased sufficiently for it to become a City.
In 1994 councils across
Victoria
amalgamated, and the City of Collingwood became part of the City of
Yarra.
Collingwood Historical Society had its beginnings in the
1970s as a local interest group in the former City of
Collingwood.
The Society:
Promotes public awareness of our local history.
Promotes the conservation of Collingwood's
heritage places.
Organises events such as talks, displays and
history walks.
Carries out research.
Collects historical material relating to
Collingwood, Clifton Hill and Abbotsford.
Records history in the form of photos, oral history
tapes, publications, and electronic resources.