Annual Report-2000-2001 - Western Australian Museum - The ...

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OVERVIEW OF CORE
FUNCTIONS
The Western Australian Museum’s core functions can
be categorised as:
• collections management
• knowledge generation
• knowledge communication.
It is important to appreciate, however, that these
functions are a continuum—from collecting and
collections management, through research and
investigation, to communicating information through
media such as exhibitions, publications, lectures and
the Internet. The fundamental purpose of the
Museum is discovery leading to learning.
The Museum has advanced on or concluded several
major projects during the year. The new Maritime
Museum building rises strikingly on the Fremantle
Port foreshore, and its iconic architectural lines are
now evident. Exhibition planning for the new
Museum goes well, and is on track for the opening
in late 2002.
The new Museum at Geraldton was handed over to
the Western Australian Museum in July and was
opened to the public in December. The new building
is in a spectacular setting in the new marina, and
major exhibitions will be installed and opened
progressively throughout 2001–2002.
Collections Management
The Museum recognises its vital role as a custodian
of the State’s collections of scientific and cultural
heritage. The management and proper use of these
collections are fundamental to our operations, as they
comprise the objects that excite, inspire and educate
our visitors.
The Museum also recognises that it must play a
leading role in acquiring objects for these collections
Western Australian Museum Annual Report 2000–2001
Executive Director’s Review
that reflect the nature of the society in which we live
and enhance our understanding of it.
The highlight of collections management was the
return of Australia II, the historic America’s Cup
winning yacht, and, after careful negotiations,
approval by the Museum for Australia II to participate
in the America’s Cup Jubilee Regatta in Cowes,
England. Seeing Australia II sailing again off Fremantle
brought back vivid memories to many people of the
1983 win at Newport and the exciting 1987 defence
at Fremantle.
Another major event was the unveiling of the newly
restored cannon from the English East India Company
ship Trial by the Minister for the Arts. Mr Peter Hickson,
a Trustee of the Western Australian Museum and a
Board Member of the Western Australian Maritime
Museum, kindly sponsored the building of the Trial
guncarriage to hold the cannon.
On the testing side, the Museum’s ageing facilities
continue to prove a great challenge for us. Our
collections are poorly housed and now far exceed
the storage areas we have for them. A major cleanup
of the main Perth site resulted in the following
significant improvements in collection storage:
• relocation of the entire fish collection (43,000 jars
of alcohol-preserved specimens) to a new
flammable liquids store in the ‘Tunnel’ in the
Francis Street Building;
• movement of more than 700 20-litre drums
containing large specimens to an off-site
commercial dangerous goods store. This,
however, is expensive and provides unsatisfactory
access to specimens;
• the installation of an additional 430 square metres
of compactus shelving in the Lower Basement
specimen storage area, in order to accommodate
specimens not previously able to fit into the
flammable liquids store.