Meeniyan & District Historical Society
Recording the history of Meeniyan and the surrounding district. New members, always welcome
The History of Meeniyan.
Originally, Meeniyan was a station on the South Gippsland railway line. The station was opened during the 1890s and operated until 1991 when the line to Barry Beach servicing the oil fields in Bass Strait was closed. Following the closure, the line was dismantled and turned into the Great Southern Rail Trail. Today, the station grounds retain a Pivot Shed, the old goods platform, an 88 mile marker and the buffer stop.
The Meeniyan and District Historical Society is actively engaged with the South Gippsland Shire Council and other historical bodies to find ways to preserve and restore remnants of the old South Gippsland railway line.
The Meeniyan and District Historical Society (MaDHS) is an active volunteer, community-based incorporated organisation. We meet monthly to discuss local histories, report on our activities and prepare future tasks. New members are welcome at our meetings.
MaDHS participates in local and regional historical networks including the South Gippsland Historical Network and the Gippsland Alliance of Associated Historical Societies. In 2023 we received a South Gippsland Shire Community Grant to assist us in securing and sharing some of our vast holdings of digital records and images.
MaDHS records the lives of residents in Meeniyan and its surrounding districts, including those who have relocated beyond the district, by conducting oral histories and documenting the location and providence of historical artefacts, buildings and documents. You can see the work of previous Historical Society projects in small plaques around the town.
We collect photographs; conduct interviews; research newspapers for relevant articles; and communicate with residents and local community groups through the town newsletter and more broadly, via online websites.
Join MaDHS.
If you would like to join MaDHS, please fill in this form and we will be in touch to let you know about our next meeting and upcoming projects.