Mulwala Pioneer Museum’s drainage and rectifications work at the south and east corners of the museum will be able to be undertaken.
The highly regarded museum will benefit from funding of $265,000 under Round Five of the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund.
In announcing the funding on January 31, Member for Albury, Justin Clancy MP said the funding will help refurbish and upgrade this important regional museum, providing better amenities and helping keep this building in shape for a long future.
“The Mulwala Pioneer Museum tells important perspectives on the history of the town, on the people who travelled from across the world to settle there, on the way they lived and with insight into the technologies and tools they implemented in those times,” he said.
“I’m certain that everyone in town and throughout the surrounding region will be looking forward to visiting the museum as they look to understand the people and those times in this riverside location.”
Pioneer museum president Kaye Reeves said the $265,000 funding will be primarily used to fix the outer wall of the Pioneer museum.
“The lack of drainage around the museum has contributed to the deterioration of the wall,” she said. “We want to do some minor renovations inside, but we can’t do that until the wall is fixed. We’d like locals to work on the restoration of the wall to both assist them and they also have a connection to the museum.
“We are keen to see the work undertaken as soon as possible instead of seeing the beams out front propping up the front wall.”
Ms Reeves said there are over 4,000 items for people to see, a remark leading to committeeman Phil Peachey to say: “It’s one of the best regional museums in Australia.”
Mulwala Pioneer Museum contains a wide variety of such interesting history over many decades, including all sorts of farm machinery, travel vehicles, a lovely rock collection, blacksmith’s workshop, a butcher shop, dentistry, old nursery, wedding attire and sporting memorabilia.
A special thank you was given by Ms Reeves to museum secretary Cyndi Gleeson who instigated action towards the necessary work and to Cr Andrew Kennedy of Federation Council who has been very helpful.
Cr Andrew Kennedy welcomed the funding and encouraged locals in particular to visit the museum if they haven’t. “It’s great to see the government give money to rectify the problems at the museum,” he said.
“I encourage people in the community to see this great museum. When I attended a meeting there before Christmas I was quite shocked to see how many great things they have in the museum.”
Museum committee members need some assistance in showing this wonderful museum to locals and visitors.
“We are desperate for more volunteers and appeal particularly to younger people to come on board,” Ms Reeves said. “We’re open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, from 1.00pm to 4.30pm and would welcome any enquiries. Many hands make light work.”