RUPANYUP and District Historical Society hopes to capitalise on the success of the Silo Art Trail with a trail of its own.
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The group has started phase one of the Rupanyup Heritage Trail, which will initially include eight sites in Cromie Street.
Historial society secretary Helen Uhe said silo trail had lead to a huge increase in visitors to the town, and the group believed it needed to provide more items of interest to encourage people to spend time in the town.
She said the trail’s first phase would involve a storyboard opposite Rupanyup’s silo art, featuring early photos of the town and a brief settlement history.
“Eight individual signs marking the history of buildings or sites of former buildings will complete phase one,” she said.
“The signs will be at the post office; former Royal Hotel site; memorial hall and adjoining site of the mechanic's institute; original fire station site; The Big Store; the former shire office; Cust's Store reproduction – now Rupanyup Living; and the railway station.
“The historical society is funding this with money raised by memberships, donations and merchandise sales, such as calendars, postcards, tea towels and keyrings.”
Mrs Uhe said the group had applied for a Public Record Office Victoria grant to work on another 16 sites.
“If not successful with the grant, we will work on them one by one when funds allow,” she said.
Mrs Uhe said the historical society wanted to improve the town in any way to make it more interesting to visitors.
“It's not a quick process, but we need to start somewhere,” she said.
“I'm sure many locals will also learn something as well from these signs.
“The silo art is what draws people to our small towns and the Yarriambick region, but we want to give them more to see and learn.
“The society is working hard to collect and store our history for future generations.
“We love to receive photos, family histories and personal histories. People often don't think the little black and white photos they have in a box are valuable, but they are so important in recording days gone by, whether it be family, farming, streetscapes or sporting events.
“Our Facebook page has been a great source of individual memories and its success continues to grow, while our president Sonny Johns has the best memory for everything.”
Mrs Uhe urged anyone with memories or photos to share to contact the society through its Facebook page, or email rupanyuphistorical@gmail.com.
She said people could submit items at 93 Cromie Street, Rupanyup, or at Tyler’s Hardware, Rupanyup.