The Bellinger Valley Historical Society is a non-profit group of volunteers, dedicated to preserving the history of the Bellingen Valley and surrounding areas on the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales, Australia. The original Society began in the 1960s, and a Urunga branch of the Bellingen Museum has been open since that time. The Urunga Museum is now permanently settled in the old School of Arts building in Morgo Street, opposite the Caravan Park.
Much of the Historical Society’s collection of artifacts was displayed in the historic Hammond and Wheatley Emporium until 1983, when the new Bellingen Museum was opened adjacent to the Bellingen Shire Council Chambers in Hyde Street.
The Bellingen and Urunga Museums now house our collections, which range in date from pre-European settlement to modern day. The Museums also house an extensive collection of documents, microfilms and photographs for those who are interested in researching local history.
In 1998 the original Historical Society was replaced by a Section 355 Committee of Council, trading as Bellinger Valley Historical Society, to administer both Bellingen and Urunga Museums for the people of the Shire. Bellingen Shire Council provides no financial support for the Bellingen and Urunga Museums. The Committee funds the Museums by charging nominal fees for research etc, by publishing and selling books on local history, and by charging admission to view the collections.