Western Australian Museum Annual Report 2003-2004

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Western Australian Museum–Albany
HISTORY DOCUMENTATION
The Museum continued to encourage local authors to research and record information within
their areas of expertise and to publish the resulting work. Stan Austin’s book about Oyster
Harbour was launched and has proved very popular, while his book on Eclipse Island is in press
with the Western Australian Museum’s publications department. Kath Gibb’s book Reflections,
a collection of stories of the development of the King River, was also launched. Joyce Shiner’s
latest book Bread and Jam and Hidings, is nearing completion. The Albany Chamber of
Commerce has commissioned the publishing of a commercial history of Albany, The Chamber,
from Les Johnson, and this is also with the Western Australian Museum’s publications
department.
As part of Women’s History Month, invitations were sent to community groups and through the
media, requesting women to come to the Museum and tell their stories. Schools, colleges and
interested members of the public were invited to come and listen and write the oral histories of
participants. Stories included those of war nursing, farming and refugee life. The resulting tapes
and transcripts are being housed in the City of Albany Local Studies Center. Several have been
broadcast on the ABC, and the Museum will use the material as background for future exhibitions
and books.
EXHIBITIONS
Work commenced on the plans for the transferring of the Marine Gallery from the Perth site to
the Eclipse Building to become the Sea of Life exhibition. Two major travelling exhibitions from
the National Archives in Canberra were hosted, attracted good crowds, and were very wellreceived
by the regional community. The Social History of Wine exhibition was supplemented
by items from local wine producers. Beacons by the Sea was a perfect adjunct for the Eclipse
Optic and other lighthouse artefacts on display in the building.
As part of the move to get small travelling exhibitions to remote areas, Albany Museum staff
transported and set up a Western Australian Museum display on wind@work in Denmark and
Esperance.
The Austin Healey Car Club of Australia held a large meeting in Albany and placed 62 cars on
display in the Museum grounds. This event attracted a large crowd, which also visited the
Museum. Small temporary displays were mounted showing ongoing research into ground parrots
and dibblers. Also of interest was a showcase of donated material from the second Shackleton
expedition to the South Pole, the recently conserved cupola from the Point King Lighthouse
and a rowboat that was used to service both the Eclipse and Breaksea lighthouses. Members
of the local Nyoongar community mounted an exhibition of pre-settlement Aboriginal life, and a
large collection of crabs and other preserved sea life was put in the ‘Sea and Touch’ area.
The Museum had a stand and activities at the Albany Show, which was visited by 1,128 people.
All exhibitions together with the two whale strandings that occurred in the region during the
year attracted excellent media coverage locally, nationally, and, in the case of the Hectors
beaked whale, internationally.
EDUCATION
More than 2,500 schoolchildren from 67 schools participated in activities at the Museum. This
was an improvement on last year. The appointment of a part-time Education Officer has resulted
in greater awareness of the Museum throughout the local education community through writing
to and visiting schools and offering new curriculum-based programs.
Holiday activities were held in July (The Ultimate Challenge Trail), October (Explorers Escapades),
at Christmas (Night-Light & Flight/ Traditional Japanese Origami & Kite-Making), and in the
Easter school holidays (Dynamic Dinosaurs). They were well-patronised.
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM ANNUAL REPORT 2003–2004