Museum of the Riverina

Museums of History NSW (MHNSW) and the Museum of the Riverina (MoR) in Wagga Wagga are working in partnership to co-develop and deliver outcomes for regional NSW as part of MHNSW’s Regional Partnership Program.

Through a three-year partnership – 2026–28 – MHNSW will deliver on its statewide mandate to increase regional access to MHNSW’s stories and collections, support volunteer and sector capacity-building and continue our commitment to regional engagement. The MoR will extend its organisational capabilities and public offerings in education, research and volunteering, and delivering regional content that has statewide relevance.

Curatorial research

Through this partnership we are sharing our respective collections, knowledge and expertise. As a first step, Sam Leah, Regional Museum Officer from the MoR, visited The Mint in January 2026 to explore MHNSW’s Caroline Simpson Library Collection. Sam paid particular attention to synergies between our collections, exploring opportunities for the Caroline Simpson Library Collection to enhance understandings of regional collections and histories and ways to examine the city/country divide. Sam is especially interested in finding ways to provide greater understanding of regional collections and to acknowledge their localness and importance to small museums.

Through this research, the aim is to unlock previously untold Riverina histories, enhance the work already undertaken by regional museums, and spark the development of rich new storytelling opportunities, interpretation and other projects.

Education programming

Another focus of the partnership is the development of a primary school excursion program that aligns with the new national curriculum that will be introduced in 2027. MHNSW and MoR staff will co-design and develop resources that can be utilised by both organisations, culminating in the development of a learning program that will be delivered in Wagga Wagga. In March 2026, Angus Cawdell-Smith, Museum Education & Public Programs Officer from the MoR, visited MHNSW to observe learning programs, meet MHNSW staff and gather inspiration. While in Sydney he also met with the Learning team at the State Library of NSW, the Executive Officer for Professional Services at the History Teachers’ Association and a number of teachers to better understand the needs of teachers when designing learning programs. Later this year, Edward Washington, Learning Producer at MHNSW, will visit Wagga Wagga to work with Angus onsite at the MoR to begin crafting an engaging, curriculum-linked place-based experience.

The partnership between MHNSW and the MoR builds on a long and productive history of collaboration between both organisations. We are very excited at the prospect of a long and fruitful association.