The Courtroom of the Moonee Ponds Court House amidst the Wedding Dress Exhibition (2023)
Source: EHS Collection

As the Museum for the Essendon Historical Society, the Moonee Ponds Court House hosts regular exhibitions centring on different facets of local history, drawing on the EHS Collection and generous loans from members and other organisations.

Current Exhibition

Our Sporting Legacy

July-December 2024

As all eyes are on Paris for the Olympics, join us at the Moonee Ponds Court House Museum to relive 1956 with a sample of memorabilia from the Melbourne Games. This exhibition highlights items from both the EHS Collection and from sporting groups across the district, from rowing on the Maribyrnong to the Same Olds of the Essendon Football, and from bowling and cricket to tennis and trugo. 

The Museum is open at the corner of Mount Alexander Road and Kellaway Avenue every Sunday between 2pm and 5pm.

Sports Exhibition

Unwrapping the Past: Children’s Toys Across the Years

January-June 2024
The first exhibition of 2024 took visitors back in time and back to their childhood, showcasing classics rocking horses, tin soldiers, toy cars and model airplanes. Dolls and teddies tookover the Courtroom, and there were even some more recent memories, like Rubik’s cubes and Furbies.

Toy Horse
Wedding Dress

Back in Time: Wedding Dress Exhibition

July-December 2023
The Courtroom was transformed with the glorious display of ten wedding dresses, dating from 1870 to the 1950s and charting the trends in bridal fashion. These were accompanied by a gallery of wedding portraits and a collection of wedding memorabilia and accesssories. No wedding would be complete without a tiered cake, and so the exhibition featured an embroidered wedding cake from the Victorian Embroiderer’s Guild.

Badges Display

January-July 2023
This exhibition showed the badges, medals, medallions, buttons, ribbons and pennants from the EHS Collection. They relate to a wide range of historical themes, including war, royal visits, politics, schools and community organisations.

Badges Exhibition
Mother & Child Exhibition

Maternal & Child Attire from a Bygone Era

July-December 2022
This exhibition showcased items from the EHS Collection that tell the story of mothers and their children, including clothing, accessories, toys, and household items.

Back to School

January-July 2022
Returning from two years of lockdowns, the Courtroom transformed into a classroom, featuring items from the EHS Collection from local schools – from school books and pencil cases to hats and blazers.

Schools Exhibition
History Reclaimed

History Reclaimed

2020-2021
As the Court House reopened after the devastating 2016 fire, the Museum told both the story of the Court House, the fire and restoration. This exhibition celebrated not only the Court House but also other local landmark buildings which had faced the threat of demolition and survived by finding a new purpose, including Earlsbrae/Lowther Hall, the Essendon Town Hall/Clocktower Centre and the Walter Burley Griffin-designed Incinerator.

Donation

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