The chosen topics were important in Launceston's history but written information was generally difficult to find and ranged from technical education and Chinese migrants to women in textile factories and the Longford motor races.

Almost 40 residents of the Launceston area were interviewed, in most cases for the first time. Their very personal experiences gave the museum new insights into Launceston's past.

This column's author, a research officer at the museum, conducted the interviews. Excerpts were used as the basis for nine exhibitions at Macquarie House, curated by Elspeth Wishart, and edited transcripts published in the book Launceston Talks.

The oral histories were a great success. Visitors appreciated reading or listening to the stories of their own locality, told by those who were directly involved. The stories made history live. After receiving an increasing number of inquiries, in 1991 the decision was made to initiate a Tasmanian branch of the Oral History Association of Australia.

The Queen Victoria Museum provided crucial in-kind support. On July 19 Launceston Talks was launched by Tasmanian journalist Tim Bowden to a packed museum gallery, and the following day a public meeting was held to form the branch.

Members came from many fields: those interested in family history, or the history of their community; teachers who wanted to enliven their history classes or university students wishing to find out more for their theses; tourism operators preparing information for travellers and museum curators wanting livelier exhibitions.

The association offers annual workshops for those wanting to do their own interviewing and a seminar each year provokes wide-ranging discussion of the various uses of oral history.

Since 1992 the newsletter Real to Reel has been produced, providing articles on all aspects of oral history. The association also hires out broadcast-quality recorders at cheap rates. In 1995 and 2009 it hosted national conferences attracting people from around the country and internationally. It is due to host a third in 2021.

In 2014 the Tasmanian 'branch' became a stand-alone organisation with the new name of Oral History Tasmania, but affiliation with Oral History Australia continues.