“This is expected to take a long time,” Federation Council’s General Manager Adrian Butler said at yesterday’s May council meeting.
Council supported, in principle, the site being retained for use as a museum/exhibition centre and work with the Yarrawonga Mulwala Historical Society as they plan for a new facility.
It was a very relieved Historical Society President Kaye Reeves who spoke with the Yarrawonga Chronicle about the future of the Pioneer Museum .
After more than a year of uncertainty, she says the Historical Society now has a plan for the Pioneer Museum.
It’s not what they would have hoped for, but after three separate engineering reports signalled the end of life for the museum’s Mulwala building, the writing was on the wall.
Months of discussions with Federation Council found no solution as to where and how to house the precious collection of artefacts from Australia’s pioneering era.
Without access to the building, there was no way of removing the items, and then there was nowhere big enough to store the airplanes, antique harvesters and machinery.
A meeting between Historical Society members and Mr Butler and manager of Community and Economic Development, Narelle Donovan, finally decided the way forward.
Mrs Reeves said members had all voted to go ahead with the propping of the museum building while they move forward to find grants for a brand-new museum and a storage shed.
The decision means the artefacts can remain where they are with no need to risk moving them or to rehome them.
It’s a decision that was unanimously accepted after a “very stressful year and a half”.
“Three engineers all said the same thing, so there was no going back, the members are much more relaxed now that we’ve made a decision,” Mrs Reeves said.
“We knew the museum was finished; and it was not purpose built whereas the new one will be.
“As long as we save our priceless items and preserve our history, that’s the main thing.”
Mr Butler said council staff would continue to work closely with the Society members on what was a challenging and important issue.
Once the propping is complete, Council and the Society will adopt agreed risk and safety processes to allow safe, phased access to the building so items can be catalogued and those who own artefacts and wish to collect them can do so.
“Council and the Society know that there is a long road ahead because no temporary storage solutions are currently available,” Mr Butler said.
“However, Council greatly appreciates the members' patience and willingness to work positively towards a good outcome.
“The Society is also expected to formally ask Council to support the continued use of the Crown land after the current building's demolition and this support will enable the completion of planning, including community engagement, to raise interest and support for what a new facility would involve and showcase.
“Once plans are agreed upon, funding avenues can then be explored for the longer-term, exciting vision of rebuilding a Museum and Exhibition Centre for Yarrawonga/Mulwala.”
At yesterday’s Council meeting councillors voted eight / one on the above action, on the motion of Councillors Rowena Black and David Harrison.
Councillor Black expressed her happiness of the path now set. Cr David Bott believed propping should not proceed before a new home for the museum’s items is found.
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