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A long-held vision has finally come to life at Schramms Cottage with the official opening of the new Visitor Centre today, 17 October 2025.
The idea for the centre first took root seven years ago, when members of the Doncaster Templestowe Historical Society, Eric Collyer and Geoff Broome, presented their proposal to Andrew Day, then newly appointed CEO of Manningham Council. Their dream was simple yet ambitious — to create a modern, accessible space where the area's history could be preserved and shared with future generations.
Fast-forward to 2023: after years of planning and design work, Manningham Council faced a crucial decision — to build or not to build. At that meeting, councillors voted to proceed with the project, despite officer recommendations to defer it due to rising post-COVID construction costs and supply chain challenges.
Construction started in September 2024, with Prefab 1 building twelve modular sections in Seaford for the 400-square-metre facility. In December 2024, all sections were delivered and installed on site within just two days.
Over the next six months, crews completed the joinery, electrical work, and fit-out. Landscaping took another half-year as retaining walls, gardens, and an accessible pathway were installed — linking the new building seamlessly to the historic Schramms Cottage.
The new Visitor Centre includes a meeting room, an exhibition hall with a four-metre-high ceiling, an archive room, offices for the Historical Society, and accessible toilets. Two dehumidifiers and LED lighting help protect the valuable collections on display.
The opening ceremony was attended by members of the Doncaster Templestowe Historical Society, Manningham Council CEO, Andrew Day, councillors, council staff, representatives from the construction company Prefab 1, and members of the public. Mayor Cr Deirdre Diamante officially declared the centre open.
The opening also carried a personal significance for the Schramm-Neher-Craig family. Among those attending was Alistair Craig, great-great-grandson of Max Schramm, whose family generously funded the new display cases showcasing vintage dresses from the Society’s collection. Alistair also shared that his great-grandmother Rachel Schramm’s piano will be donated to the Society — a fitting tribute that reconnects family history with the evolving story of Schramms Cottage.
“My family and I are so grateful to everyone who has had a hand in creating such a living, breathing community asset, which will let us immerse ourselves in how prior generations’ hardships and successes have shaped our present,” Alistair said. “This handsome new structure will help the whole Schramm Museum Complex grow into an even more cherished space for the City of Manningham and the wider Victorian community in the decades to come.”
For the Historical Society, the new centre is a connection between past and present.As one member put it, “It’s a terrific space to conserve our history and share it with schools and the wider community.”
The Schramms Cottage Visitor Centre will open its doors to the public on Sunday, 19 October 2025, welcoming visitors to explore Doncaster’s history and the newly built community space.
