General News
14 August, 2026
Exhibition celebrates Clunes pastimes
The artefacts in Clunes Museum’s collection give an insight into the history of local industry and prominent figures. But a new exhibition will highlight what locals of the past liked to do for fun.
Coinciding with the museum’s 50th anniversary, the exhibition opened earlier this week displaying the various hobbies Clunes residents once had, or still might enjoy, in their “down time”.
The exhibition’s curator Richard Mackay-Scollay said one pastime even dates far before white settlement.
“Marngrook was an Indigenous ball game, using a ball made from stuffed possum skins,” he said.
With large team sizes and “marking” the ball fundamental in how the game is played, it is widely believed Australian rules football is inspired by this game.
Fast forward to the 1800s, crocheting, harrier, rowing, orchestra and even pigeon shooting clubs were all examples of groups residents could join.
“One thing that really stands out, is the game of quoits. Onboard ships to Australia, they used to play, but using four kilo weights that were thrown 30 feet,” Mackay-Scollay said.
Each hoop is almost dinner plate sized.
“The object was to get the quoit over the peg, or the closest wins,” Mackay-Scollay said.
Most of the displays feature sporting equipment donated by descendants of past Clunes residents.
“Cricket is not as popular anymore, tennis isn’t either but there is still a very active football and netball team,” Mr Mackay-Scollay said.
More recently, a theatre group was initiated, lasting until the 2000s. Many of the posters and books from past performances have been kept.
“They would do productions like The Boyfriend and The Pajama Game ... they were hugely successful. Unfortunately they have gone by the way side,” Mr Mackay-Scollay said.
But long before the roads were sealed, the steep slopes in Clunes’ centre didn’t stop what Mr Mackay-Scollay noticed was one of the town’s most popular activities, cycling.
“Back in the day, cycling was a big thing, it was huge,” he said.
A pursuit that even many women in Clunes took up, despite it being frowned upon at the time.
The other most popular pastime was getting “very dressed up’’ and travelling in large groups for picnics at Mount Beckworth.
“One of the images shows a group with their portable organ,” Mr Mackay-Scollary said.
“On the back of their carriage, they would make sure to bring their own music, as do we now with a speaker. But they had a portable organ.”
While some of the sports and activities are still popular today, Mr Mackay-Scollay said visitors can witness relics of Clunes’ history that the have not been shown publicly before.
“We thought, ‘lets go back a step and see what people were actually doing in their spare time’,” he said.
Pastimes of Times Past is open at Esmond Gallery, The Warehouse, 36 Fraser Street, Clunes, until the end of August.