Developmental stage
In recent months, the Camden Historical Society has been putting together a new strategic plan. It is currently at a draft developmental stage with more work to go.
The plan includes an introduction, the vision and mission, and background and context for the plan, outlining the objectives and strategies for the museum, including governance, personnel, programming, and the collection. The plan lists the strategic environment and opportunities, key strategic priorities, collection policy and procedures, a SWOT analysis, and priority issues, concluding with the society’s action plans.
The draft introduction, written by the current president, Dr Ian Willis OAM, contains some interesting data about the contributions of the society’s volunteers and the value of their volunteering.
Camden Historical Society Strategic Plan 2025-2030 Draft
Introduction
A short history
The Camden Historical Society, founded in 1957, is a voluntary organisation that tells the Camden story through managing the Camden Museum and archives, community and school education programs, publications, public lectures, history festivals, community celebrations and other activities.
The Camden Museum opened in 1970 on the ground floor at the rear of the old council chambers in the former School of Arts and expanded in 1980 to incorporate the second floor. In 1999, the society received grants from state and local governments to fund a two-storey extension. In 2007, the council integrated the library, former fire station, and School of Arts with the museum to create the Library Museum Complex.
Where are you now?
The society and the museum are currently co-located at 40 John Street, Camden, alongside the Camden Library and the Camden Area Family History Society, in a building complex owned by Camden Council. The society has an MOU with the Camden Council Library and the Camden Area Family History Society.
The management of the society is coordinated through an elected executive committee.
The society currently has 113 individuals, comprising 93 memberships. The society has 50 volunteers on the front desk roster, while other volunteers conduct research, write, and perform various other duties. The society offers three internships to public history students from Macquarie University.
Camden Museum volunteers contribute approximately 240 hours of voluntary, unpaid effort each week, or around 12,450 hours per year. Based on figures from Volunteering SA & NT and the value of volunteering at $60.88 per hour (2025), including on-costs, voluntary hours at the Camden Museum are calculated to be worth $757,956 per year. (Volunteering SA&NT. (2025).
The Camden Museum attracts around 7,500 daytrippers per year. Based on daytripper spending, which according to Destination NSW is $161 (as of 2024), the museum contributes $1.2 million to the local economy. (Destination NSW (2025)
The Camden Museum has a collection of approximately 4,000 items, managed using Mosaic. Museum entry is free, and donations are welcome.
Where do you want to go?
The society and its members aim to enhance knowledge, appreciation, and enjoyment of the Camden story through research, education, advocacy, and the management of the Camden Museum, its collection, and archives.
The Camden story encompasses the cultural and natural heritage of the Camden local government area, as well as the historic Cowpastures district.
References
Volunteering SA&NT. (2025). Value of volunteering. [online] Available at: https://vsant.org.au/value-of-volunteering/ (18 April 2025)
Destination NSW (2025), Travel to NSW Time Series – YE Dec 2024. Destination NSW, Sydney. Online at https://cdn.sanity.io/files/faycjvmy/production/ff1bf2f8b6e27271fa4a46e4dfca994e3ed31554.pdf/Travel%20to%20NSW%20Time%20Series%20-%20YE%20Dec%202024.pdf (18 April 2025)
Are you interested in our local history?
If you are interested in the local history of the Cowpastures and the Camden Local Government Area, consider supporting the Camden Historical Society’s efforts to tell the Camden story by becoming involved with the society.
Meetings of the Camden Historical Society are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 7.00pm at the Camden Museum, 40 John Street, Camden.
Visit the Camden Museum. Opening hours Thursday-Sunday 11.00-4.00pm. Free entry.
Do you enjoy meeting people? Become a volunteer. No training needed. The society will provide on-the-job training.
For further information, visit the website Camden History or contact the society at secretary@camdenhistory.org.au
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