About Us

The Wellington County Museum and Archives (WCMA) tells the stories of the people and places of Wellington County. Our Mandate is to serve as a cultural centre, providing resources, programmes, exhibits, support, and services for the historical, educational, and artistic interests of our communities.

The museum is a National Historic Site, located in the oldest remaining rural House of Industry and Refuge (or 'Poor House') in Canada. The building was constructed in 1877 as place for the poor, homeless, and destitute people of Wellington County. Learn more about our history here

Wellington Place

Our location has grown into a campus of County services with over 190 acres of trails, buildings, services and green spaces called Wellington Place:

  • Museum and Archives (National Historic Site)
  • Aboyne Library Branch
  • Children’s Early Years Administration
  • Wellington Terrace Long Term Care Home
  • Centre Wellington OPP Operations Centre
  • Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health
  • Aboyne Trail
  • Trestle Bridge Trail
  • Wellington Place Child Care and Learning Centre
  • New Groves Memorial Community Hospital (May 2020)
Large sign for Wellington Place with the OPP building in the background
Entrance to Wellington Place Campus
Trail marker for Aboyne Trail across from the museum
The 'Aboyne Trail' directly across the street from the Museum building winds along the banks of the Grand River and under the historic Trestle Bridge (a popular spot for fishing). Connects to other trail systems in the area.
Aboyne Library branch at Wellington Place
Aboyne Library Branch
Trail marker and map to the "Museum Trail"
The 'Museum Trail' connects visitors to the Poor House Cemetery as well as a network of other trails in the area.
A portion of the Tressle Bridge Trail
A portion of the Tressle Bridge Trail
Side view of the modern Wellington Place Child Care building
Wellington Place Child Care and Learning Centre
Exterior playground at Wellington Place Child Care Centre
Wellington Place Child Care and Learning Centre
Chickens graze in the grass outside their chicken coop next to the Heritage Barn
Chickens graze in the grass outside their chicken coop next to the Heritage Barn

Infrastructure to accommodate the new hospital and future development at Wellington Place began in 2013 and included new streets with names that reflect the history of the County. Two of the three new street names honour Wellington County veterans that received the Victoria Cross for their service in the First World War: Frederick Campbell Street and Samuel Honey Drive.

Charles Allan Way is the third street name at Wellington Place, and it pays tribute to the Allan family that sold some of the land at Wellington Place to the County in 1877 for the construction of the new House of Industry and Refuge. 

Gathering Circle

The Gathering Circle officially opening in 2023 and was developed through community conversations facilitated by our Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC). It's an alternative, land-based space for education, healing and gathering as a means to support the Indigenous community in a culturally safe environment. It will be shared with our community as a place of inclusion to help facilitate some of the 94 Calls to Action identified by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The Gathering Circle includes:

  • Space to grow medicines for ceremony
  • Native plant species

The Gathering Circle was developed to provide our Indigenous community and the agencies that serve them a safe space to meet. One that is not confined by walls – but plants, water and natural space," says Colleen Brunelle, IAC Chair. "This is part of our commitment to putting action into Reconciliation. The work is far from finished – but this is a great start.”  

A cherry blossom in bloom with the Indigenous Gathering Circle pathways and stone pillars in the background
Circular, stone lined walkways amidst medicinal plants at the Indigenous Gathering Circle in the spring
Members of the Indigenous Advisory Committee stand in the center of the Indigenous Gathering Circle speaking to a group of volunteers seated on stone boulders in a circle around them. Getting ready to plant medicinal plants.