A new exhibition Child’s Play: Growing up in Orange in the 1950s and 1960s will open at Orange Regional Museum on Saturday 13 November.
The exhibition features more than 80 stunning images from the Central Western Daily photographic archive, exploring childhood in all its aspects, from birth, baptism and baby shows to school days, swimming and Scouts.
This collaboration between the Orange Regional Museum and the Orange & District Historical Society melds large-scale historical images with toys and familiar objects from the era, multimedia presentations and hands-on activities.
HISTORICAL IMAGES: Exhibition curator Elisabeth Edwards and Orange Regional Museum Manager Mary-Elizabeth Andrews.
Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said the exhibition would bring back memories for those who grew up in the 1950s and 1960s.
“It is sure to evoke many stories and experiences for those who lived through it and will appeal to anyone who wants to know what it was like growing up in Orange at the time,” he said.
“This exhibition is a must-see for both the young and the young-at-heart.”
The exhibition is curated by local historian and Secretary of the Orange & District Historical Society, Elisabeth Edwards.
Orange Regional Museum manager Mary-Elizabeth Andrews said the photographs were selected from the wealth of images in the Central Western Daily Negative Collection, held by the Orange & District Historical Society.
“The exhibition also includes interviews with some of the individuals featured in the photographs, including two of the Coyte triplets, the first triplets born at Orange Base Hospital, as well as memories of sporting events, yabbying in local creeks, and summers spent swimming at the municipal pool,” Dr Andrews said.
“There is also a selection of toys and games from the period, many of which were lent to us by Golden Memories Millthorpe Museum and their members, including matchbox cars and Tonka trucks.”
The exhibition will run until 20 March, 2022.
Curator Elisabeth Edwards will provide a guided tour of the exhibition and share her thoughts and insights at ‘Curator Conversations’ at 11am on Saturday 13 November. Bookings via Eventbrite at https://childs_play_curatorconvo.eventbrite.com.au.
A book has also been produced in conjunction with the exhibition, supported by the Orange Regional Arts Foundation, and will be launched on Thursday 9 December, just in time for Christmas.
Orange Regional Museum is open from 9am to 4pm daily. Entry is free.
WATER WORKS: Children splash around in the muddy water when a water main burst in Margaret Street in 1957. Photo courtesy CWD Negative Collection, Orange & District Historical Society
