Museum is on the hunt for items in its new exhibition

The exhibition Paddock to Plate, expected to be open in FOOD Week 2018, will focus on the rich history of food growing in the region and how it shaped the area’s culture, economy and has led to the region’s strong reputation as a food and wine hub.

Orange City Council’s Services Policy Committee Chair Ron Gander said, unlike many other museums, the Orange museum would continue to develop and change its displays.

“The current exhibition Journeys: People, Place, Stories has been received well with hundreds of visitors every week but we’re certainly excited to announce the name of the new exhibition expected in April 2018,” Cr Gander said.

“People know Orange has a rich history of food and wine but do people know the individual stories of the characters that helped shape our region and its food history?

“Like the story of the first commercial fruit grower in Orange, George Hawke, who travelled back to Cornwall in search of root stock to grow here but they all died. Instead he planted a variety of fruit trees including apples, cherries, plums and peaches from elsewhere in Australia, and as they say- the rest is history.”

The educational workshops being run with school children to coincide with Journeys will continue within the new exhibition with programs already being designed.

“It’s in its early stages but we’re hoping to have cordial making workshops and children can learn to cook using 19th century ingredients and methods,” Cr Gander said.

A series of casting calls for museum objects and stories will be held over the coming 12 months.

Staff are looking for objects that are local and are connected in some way to food growing or production in the Orange region.

“So if you have anything hidden in your home related to a great story about food in the local region then give the team at the museum a call and put it on display, let other people enjoy it as much as you do” Cr Gander said.

Paddock to Plate isn’t the only change to look forward to at the Orange Regional Museum as Journeys gets a re-vamp in Mid-May.

“This museum will be ever changing to encourage people to come back time and again,” Cr Gander said.

“Ahead of the major change in 2018, we’ll be installing a new exhibit where the Electrolux exhibit is currently.

“The new exhibit will focus on early Chinese migration in the Orange region.

“It’s another reason people have to come back to the museum.”

Further information on the exhibition can be obtained by contacting the Orange Regional Museum on 6393 8444 or email museum@orange.nsw.gov.au