Cemetery tours, history talks and a reunion of the town’s now defunct football club will feature on the bill.

Set down for the Queen’s Birthday weekend of June 9-10, the back-to will mark the dual occasions of the town’s 175th year since foundation in 1843 and the 40th anniversary of the Yambuk football club’s last premiership in 1978.

It was the third consecutive flag for the once mighty side, and also the last. The club folded in 1988.

Back-to committee member Anthony Leddin said it was hoped the event would help keep alive the town’s history for younger generations. “A lot of the old names are disappearing but we hope that people who maybe grew up here will come back and reminisce and pass on their stories,” he said.

The committee is aiming to attract at least 200 people to the event, matching the town’s only previous back-to celebration in 1988.

“We’re trying to spread the word by advertising on Facebook and putting up flyers around the district,” he said.

Footage from the 1988 event will be screened and a photographic competition is expected to be a major drawcard. Entries for historic and contemporary photos of the town will be displayed in the town’s hall with prizes for both categories.

Mr Leddin said photo entries could be lodged every Saturday from May 5 between 9 and 10am at the Yambuk hall or electronically by emailing anthony.leddin@yahoo.com.au

Saturday’s program will feature a cemetery tour, sporting club talks and history talks covering the area’s indigenous culture and pioneer Annie Baxter.

A barbecue and cabaret will follow with Sunday’s program including a church service and tour of the town’s historic buildings.

Yambuk had its foundations as the Yambuk pastoral run established in 1843 by settlers Annie and Andrew Baxter and became an important stopover between Port Fairy and Portland. It once had two pubs, three churches, two schools and a fellmongery.

More details are on the Facebook page “Yambuk township 175-year anniversary and Yambuk Football Club 30/40 year anniversary”.