As the Yackandandah and District Historical Society reflects on stories told over the last 50 years, it's not just valuable items, but the people that come to mind.
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Researcher Robyn Burns-Taylor considered residents such as the late Joyce Leitch a treasure too.
"She used to come and sit in our red chair and talk to everyone - if we received a photo we weren't sure about, she would give us the right information," she said.
"After the fire that destroyed the Bank of Victoria building in 2006 she seemed very down, and when I asked her what was wrong she said 'I think I've lost my job'."
The 1860s building - operated as a museum by the society since 1969 - has passed time well, largely due to the dedicated volunteers, who saved it from demolition.
"There was a public meeting and they formed a committee," collections manager Susan Reynolds said.
"I joined the society 10 years after that.
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"The bank closed in the 1890s depression and it was bought by a tailor and his family."
A photo of the tailor's eldest daughter at her wedding reception at their residence is among the items in the society's 50th anniversary exhibition, opening at the weekend.
"We have close to 11,000 items and we lost banking paraphernalia in the fire, but most of our collection was safe," Ms Reynolds said.
"It resembles our people and our stories."
Ms Reynolds received an OAM in 2011 for her work with the society, and treasurer Pam Noble said the museum had a good reputation.
"We are fully accredited by Museums Australia, which is not an easy qualification to get," she said.
"People that visit are impressed and they can't believe a town like this still exists."
A weekend of events for the anniversary begins with a presentation on the Victorian Gold Rush Era by historian Geoffrey Blainey on Friday from 6pm, and on Saturday at 10.30am the new sculpture outside the museum will be officially opened.
For tickets visit https://vic-goldfields.eventbrite.com.au.
