Chinchilla Library Service

Historic Photographs

Chinchilla Library has a wonderful collection of historic photographs. Two hundred of these have been digitised and placed on the Picture Queensland website. Simply type in "Chinchilla" and hit "Go" to view all the images of Chinchilla. You can search more specifically by using the Advanced Search feature.

Copies of these and more images may be viewed at the library. The originals have been safely stored away in archival containers. We are always collecting photographs and materials for the local and family history collection, and donations are always very welcome. We receive many enquiries from people researching their family histories and they particularly appreciate finding a relevant photograph.

The Chinchilla images collection on Picture Queensland was launched when the Leichhardt Expedition Exposition 2004 was in Chinchilla. The images were projected onto a big screen in Fuller Place where a large crowd had assembled. Accompanying the images was an original unpublished song, A Ballad of Chinchilla, composed by well-known Brisbane writer, musician and examiner, the late John Villaume. Evidently Mr Villaume had stayed with friends in the district and presented them with the song as a thank you gift. The song was recorded for voice and piano by Judith Bell, and her son, David, in 2005. Click here to listen to this recording.