Corryong - Man from Snowy River Museum - North East

Corryong - Man from Snowy River Museum

The Man from Snowy River Museum and Riley's Village tells the story of Jack Riley who was without doubt, the real man from Snowy River who inspired Banjo Paterson's famous poetry. This epic tale has an endearing place in the hearts of all Australians and is celebrated every year in Corryong at the Man from Snowy River Festival.

Learn about the legend of Jack Riley and the pioneering life of the Upper Murray at the Man from Snowy River Museum.

The Museum moved to its present location in 1971 and some older buildings such as the school, bank, lockup, Police Station and Jarvis' Cottage were used to create "Riley's Village", set amongst sheds with blacksmith and farming equipment.

The main building displays an extensive collection including:

Jack Riley exhibition - The Man from Snowy River
Nationally Significant Ski Collection
Household items from 1800 - 1960
Thomas Mitchell Collection
The Upper Murray Remembers the War Exhibition
Jim Simpon's POW knitted rug
Corryong Hospital Collection
Horse-drawn equipment
Scouts, Guides, and Red Cross display
Pioneer portraits and research files
Music Collection
Costumes and Textiles, including Quilt
Local Sporting exhibition
Benevolent Societies exhibition
Business machines and equipment
Gold and Tin Mining exhibitions
Local Buildings: School, Police Station, Bank, Gaol
Local Church history

KNIT ONE, PURL ONE....

The Upper Murray Remembers the War exhibition is a display of memorabilia and information from Upper Murray families, relating to the wars; from the Boer War through to Vietnam.

Jim Simpson's rug is the highlight of this display. Jim served with the RAAF, during October of 1943 his Lancaster Bomber was shot down over Germany and he was taken prisoner.

Upon his capture Jim was informed by fellow prisoners that his woollen pullover would be confiscated and sent to the Russian front. He promptly unravelled it and rolled it into balls of wool. Over the next 18 months Jim gradually acquired more woollen items, then he boiled these to kill the lice and then wound them into more balls of wool.

The rug was knitted in one piece, taking about 6 weeks to complete. Jim used knitting needles that he had constructed from the pan handles of his eating utensil. The rug measures 2 m x 2.1 m and depicts all major mountains, lakes, islands, and the Coat of Arms for each State. This rug is a work of art.

FOR THE WORD HAD PASSED AROUND....

Jack Riley was a mountain cattleman in the late 1800s. Tough, wiry, self-reliant and somewhat reclusive, he emigrated from Ireland as a young lad and worked initially as a tailor near Omeo before finding his true passion as a stockman for the Pierce family at Greg Greg.

He lived in isolation in a but up in the mountain country, often guiding visitors to the top of Mt Kosciusko. A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson was one such visitor when Walter Mitchell accompanied him on the trip. It's believed Jack provided the inspiration for Banjo to write the famous Man From Snowy River poem a few months later. Banjo also published another poem for Federation called 'Johnny Riley's Cow'; further testament to the material Banjo found for his verses during his visit to the high country and Jack Riley.

Jack Riley is buried at the Corryong Cemetery, and The Man From Snowy River Bush Festival honours the mountain stockman's spirit each year in its search for the modern day equivalent of Jack Riley.

ADVENTURING INTO THE UNKNOWN ON SKIS....

This museum holds one of Australia's best ski collections. The collection dates back to 1870, with Kiandra 'paling fence skis' of 1880, and home made experimental skis included in the vast number of skis.

The Mitchell family donated much of this ski collection, and included is a pram on skis made by Tom & Elyne Mitchell to enable them to take their young children with them while skiing the high country.

Part of the ski collection was also loaned to the Australian Government in 1984 as part of the World Expo exhibition in New Orleans USA.

A STROLL DOWN MEMORY LANE....

Meander your way around the collection of outdoor buildings and experience the diversity of life from the 1870s right through to the 1970s.

Jarvis Cottage was built in 1876 and relocated to the museum in 1983. The 2 room cottage housed an entire family in its early years and includes newspapers wallpapered to the walls. View the many household items that were used by our early settlers.

Gain a better understanding of what daily living was like for those who lived and worked in this remote part of Australia during its settlement in the 1850s through to the establishment of the Snowy Hydro Scheme in the 1950s.

Opening Hours:

The Museum is staffed all year round by dedicated volunteers 10am-4pm, 7 days a week. Closed Christmas Day, Good Friday, and the morning of Anzac Day.
Hours from Jun-Aug may be reduced to 1pm-3pm.

Cost:

$5 per adult, $10 for for family