Explore a heritage rich with pride

The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) is pleased to announce the launch of a new Virtual Museum, an online platform sharing the stories of the organisation’s 170 year history.

As an organisation, RASV commenced with a ploughing match in 1848 and continues to conduct Victoria’s largest annual community event, the Royal Melbourne Show, over 11 days in September/October.

The Virtual Museum is a lively changing forum that will peak curiosity, enable discovery and share stories. The collection includes the RASV’s archival records and artefacts from the 1870’s to current day, with the collection spanning across the Royal Melbourne Show, the RASV and items from Victoria’s rural heritage.

The Virtual Museum is another positive step forward in sharing the RASV’s rich history following the accreditation of the RASV Heritage Collection through the Museum Accreditation Program in 2018.

Displayed on the virtual museum site are Royal Melbourne Show exhibitions, films, snapshots, trophies and most importantly, a collection of 54 oral history interviews with some of the people that have shaped the RASV and the Royal Melbourne Show.

Visitors to the website are encouraged to interact through the discussion forum to provide further information that can assist in documenting each individual piece.

RASV CEO, Paul Guerra was enthusiastic about sharing stories of the RASV’s past and is looking forward to the new stories that will be told.

“The virtual museum allows us to share items of our rich heritage with our members, exhibitors and the wider public.

“The physical space required for the display of the collection is limited but the virtual museum allows us to share the stories of the past like never before.”

“By uploading images of the physical collection to the virtual museum, it provides the opportunity to show items that nobody has been able to access before, assisting with sharing RASV’s history with the wider community.”

The Virtual Museum can be accessed via the RASV website at www.rasv.com.au/virtual-museum

The 2019 Royal Melbourne Show will be held from Saturday 21 September to Tuesday 1 October at Melbourne Showgrounds.