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Or indeed from anywhere in the world?

Now you can.

Coffs Harbour and the region’s cultural treasures and stories are available online following the launch of Coffs Harbour City Council’s digital ‘Coffs Collections’ service.

You can discover and journey through the extensive historic and present-day artefacts, oral histories, documents, films, photographs, publications and art collections of Coffs Harbour’s past and present.

‘Coffs Collections’ offers a wonderful treasure trove of amazing and surprising things to explore,” said Coffs Harbour Mayor, Councillor Denise Knight.

“People of all ages and backgrounds are going to love it.”

‘Coffs Collections’ was launched on 1 September 2020 at Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery by the Parliamentary
Secretary for Energy and the Arts, Ben Franklin, alongside Cr Knight.

Like the service itself, the launch took on a virtual format with the Create NSW team that helped fund the project, tuning in online.

‘Coffs Collections’ includes over 7,000 photographs from Coffs Harbour’s past, historical maps of the region – including a 1942 marine chart secretly created by the Japanese government during World War II, while details of our past local history are brought vividly to life in the pages of a wide range of documents including local newsletters.

“In addition, you can watch films and actually hear the voices and stories of our past community through 140 oral history interviews.

“A much wider audience can now also learn about the original custodians of the land, the Gumbaynggirr people, and hear local elders speak and sing in traditional language,” added Ms Fogarty.

Museum and Gallery collections contain contemporary material including items from the 2019 bushfires and renowned artist Ben Quilty’s recent artwork donation.

Some artefacts that are soon to be included are artworks created by local children from the Orara Valley who experienced the recent bushfires firsthand.

Enjoy using the new service at http://coffs.recollect.net.au

By Sandra MOON