Moree & District Historical Society (MDHS) was formed in 1960 when Moree locals were researching a book, The Rising Sun, released for the 1962 centenary of Moree being gazetted a town. The book is still sought after today. The Society was disbanded for a short time in the late 1960s, reformed in 1972, and has since been going from strength to strength.

MDHS has had several changes of location – its first meetings were in members’ homes, then members erected a Cottage and Bark Hut in Mary Brand Park, which unfortunately were both destroyed by arson. Fortunately, no records were lost in either fire as at that stage they were all stored off-site. The Historical Society, along with the Gwydir Family History Society (GFHS), moved into a room at the Moree Community Library in 2008 and both groups offered their services to the public from there for about ten years, until the GFHS closed in 2018.

In 2019, after much lobbying and with the continued support of Northern Tablelands State Member, The Hon. Mr. Adam Marshall, Moree Plains Shire Council (MPSC) was able to acquire the empty Moree Lands Office at 40 Frome Street on behalf of MDHS, for $1.00. 

40 Frome Street will be the home of the Historical Society as well as Moree’s first general museum – Moree Plains Museum.