The museum, lead by chairperson Rae Brewster, is packed full of objects relating to the history of Streaky Bay in every way imaginable.

“We keep whatever anyone will give us,” Mrs Brewster says. “We’ll preserve it for future generations.”

Many of the collections bring back nostalgic memories for the few locals and many tourists who visit the old school building on Montgomerie Terrace, which is arranged into related themes instead of interpretive displays.

Old appliances, a replica classroom and the original Streaky Bay doctor’s surgery are still full of stories for Mrs Brewster and the other four regular volunteers.

“We’re unique because we don’t focus on one or two items,” Mrs Brewster says about the museum.

“Anything that is history (we collect), like radios – we’ve got a few of those recently. It’s a very nostalgic journey to come through our museum in a lot of cases.”

As well as the ladies who keep the doors open, there are men who do repairs and other handiwork around the museum each week, but they need more help.

“We could do with more help. Our men are aged,” Mrs Brewster said.

While more volunteers would be nice, the museum is keen to get locals in to find out more about their history which they can often relate to personally.

“You run into them all the time and they say I should go to the museum but they don’t come,” Mrs Brewster says.

Lino in the museum’s office was recently replaced with funds from the Streaky Bay Community Hotel, and a re-roofing of the main building has been completed at a cost of $15,000 thanks to the hotel and the District Council of Streaky Bay.

The Streaky Bay Museum is open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 1.30pm to 4pm and now on Saturdays during summer from 9am to 12 noon.