General News
27 January, 2026
Exhibitions to shed light on local history and heritage
Carisbrook Historical Society is soon to open two exhibitions showcasing their remarkable archive of local heritage.
Carisbrook Historical Society (CHS) is soon to open two exhibitions showing their remarkable collections and archives, particularly for those interested in local heritage.
The first exhibition will open inside the Carisbrook Log Jail, featuring a display tracing the history of the Carisbrook Market Reserve.
Market Reserve in Carisbrook, Past and Present will show the many uses of the reserve since it was allocated to Carisbrook in 1859, alongside a series of photographs showing a variety of uses from as early as the 1800s all the way through to the modern era.
The many lives of the Market Reserve began when a portion of Carisbrook’s town centre was zoned for public use in 1857. A substantial market hall was soon constructed using locally produced bricks, housing five large stalls.
As the market trade declined, the reserve evolved, accommodating a foundry, chaff mill, weighbridge, bell tower, engine shed and livestock sale yards.
The reserve even had various playgrounds installed, upgrading throughout different eras.
In recent decades, the space has been home to the Senior Citizens Club and the Carisbrook Fire Station.
CHS’ Alex Stoneman said the sequence of images are a chance for viewers to relive more than 160 years of local history.
“There are about 23 A3 size photos, some of them historic, dating back to 1859, with the last one taken the other day, 2026,” he said.
“Each photograph has an explanation.”
A few doors down, Carisbrook Town Hall will showcase a mini gallery called Local Painters, Local Buildings, displaying a series of paintings by local artists, inspired by Carisbrook’s buildings and heritage, including historical buildings such as the the road bridge across Tullaroop Creek and Lang’s butcher shop, formerly on the corner of Green and Urquhart streets.
While some of the artists were amateurs, many exhibited their work at local art shows, including the Golden Wattle Festival.
“There have been a lot of local artists, for a long time they actually met together and painted together in Carisbrook and nearby ... about three quarters of them were women,” Mr Stoneman said.
“We have a collection of those works, oils and watercolours of local buildings, but only very few of them are signed.”
CHS is calling on the community to help fill in the remaining gaps, seeking information about the identity and careers of some of the artists, as well as assistance in identifying one of the buildings depicted in the works.
“We have done a fair bit of research to find out who actually painted them,” Mr Stoneman said.
“CHS, like all, part of its agenda or commitment is public access to the archives, the records, this is one way of enabling that to happen.”
The official launch of the exhibition will be at Carisbrook Log Jail on Friday, February 6 at 2 pm.
The official launch of the mini-gallery will take place afterwards at 3 pm at Carisbrook Town Hall.
Afternoon tea will be provided.
The free exhibitions will be on display for public viewing until July 2026.