This tiny museum disguised as a servo honours one of our national icons

The Cyril Callister Museum is jam-packed with all things Vegemite, the country's most popular yeast spread, which sells more than 22 million jars each year.

Named after Vegemite's inventor, the museum is located in Beaufort, about a 2.5-hour drive from Melbourne. Museum manager Liza Robinson said visitors love to share their stories.

"It brings back all their memories of when they used to go to Grandma and she used to put Vegemite on their roast lamb, and how their Mum always sent them to school with a Vegemite sandwich and a banana," she said.

"It really triggers a lot of really positive emotions and energy and purpose."

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Visitors can see how the packaging has evolved over time; there's an example of the original glass jar from 1923, plus those from the 1960s that could be used as tumblers after the Vegemite had been eaten.

Other specialties include a Vegemite ration tin given to Australian soldiers during World War II and a jar included in gift packs for new mums at Tweddle Baby Hospital, Footscray, in the 1950s.

Then there's the spin-off merchandise, including Vegemite radios, jumpers, socks, plates, mugs, board games, toy vehicles and men's jocks, plus photographs and advertising material.

Local artisans have had fun making products and merchandise for the museum; you can try a Vegemite Oreo biscuit and a Vegemite meat pie, plus shop for quirky items including a Vegemite on toast candle.

Activities include painting with Vegemite, a kids-based science experiment with the spread, and tours where people can learn more about the inventor and see extra hidden items.

Vegemite was invented in Melbourne by Mr Callister, a food scientist at Fred Walker Company, later known as Kraft. Tasked with coming up with a spread from brewer's yeast, a natural source for Vitamin B, his recipe hit shelves in 1923.

It has been made in Port Melbourne ever since and just two per cent of production is sold overseas.

Dr Callister was born in 1893 in Chute, Victoria, a heritage town close to Beaufort. The second of nine children, he won a scholarship to attend the University of Melbourne, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1914.

The museum is run by the Cyril Callister Foundation, which shares his legacy and offers scholarships to help regional youth study science.

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