Yesterday, she drove all the way from her Hobart home to help celebrate 30 years of the thriving centre at a breakfast ceremony attended by about 85 people.

"In 1973 we had our first meeting," Ms Howard- Dowlman said.

"We committed to it because we had seen so much of the Tamar's history was going up to Entally House.

"It was plain damned hard work, vision and fun."

Museum collections curator Julieanne Richards said it was thanks to the dynamic original committee that the mine still enjoyed great success.

More than 43,000 people visited the centre last year, which is set to expand in October to include the original mine site.

"The story of the museum has been one of growth and improvement," Ms Richards said.

Ms Howard-Dowlman said she was now starting work on a book detailing the museum's beginnings.