Garioch Heritage Centre opened in October 2017 and houses the collections of Garioch Heritage Society. The Society has been researching the area’s history and gathering artefacts since 1987. Housed in the former locomotive works, the Centre tells the story of life in the Garioch from earliest settlement to the present day and sheds light on the domestic and working lives of local people.
Our upstairs gallery is constantly being reviewed and further enhanced, incorporating the use of increased technology, introducing a broader range of artefacts, and creating a meaningful historical timeline. Exciting ongoing projects include the planned reclamation and restoration of an original ice breaker from the era of the Aberdeenshire Canal and the creation of educational materials for virtual learning.
The Centre sits in the renovated Carriage and Waggon Workshop, part of the Inverurie Locomotive Works. The Works closed their gates for the last time in 1969 but have received a new lease of life as a home for our collections. The Centre keeps the memory of the Loco Works alive, all under the watchful eye of the original 20-ton crane.
There is a gift shop, café, and activities to amuse younger visitors. You can enjoy a guided tour by our experienced volunteers and hear their stories of growing up in the Garioch. Our reading area provides a space in which to research local history or to peruse the Society’s extensive collection of photographs and archive material.