Art - Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery

INTRODUCTION
The year saw further substantial progress in the consolidation
of the Museum’s programs and activities onto the Royal Park
and Inveresk sites. As this occurs the Launceston City Council’s
objective of creating two national standard facilities and visitor
destinations within the City is coming closer to fruition.
The most significant project in this program commenced
during the year was the relocation of the Community History
and Library collections and facilities to Inveresk. For the
Community History collections and facilities this required the
short-term transfer of the collections to temporary storage
from December while the staff were housed at the Royal Park
site. The movement of this substantial collection was
undertaken with great professionalism by the Museum’s staff.
While the Community History collection was in storage the
opportunity was taken to complete a significant range of
collection guides, which will greatly increase community access
to the collections once the new Community History and
Library facilities open at Inveresk.
Other projects either completed or underway at Inveresk during
the year included the construction of new office
accommodation for the History Department, the fit out of the
Sports Gallery as well as the fit out of the new Learning Centre.
In addition other Museum staff including Graphics, Public
Programs and IT have been able to be rehoused in muchimproved
office accommodation at both sites.
The range of new facilities particularly at Inveresk has enabled
the Museum to develop a number of partnerships which
contribute to the cultural life of northern Tasmania. These have
included the Australian School of Fine Furniture Lecture Series,
the Musica North Concert Series, Royal Society of Tasmania
Lecture Series and Launceston Historical Society’s Symposium
to mark the Bicentenary of European settlement on the Tamar.
In addition the Museum has provided accommodation and
support to Arts @ Work, a new initiative of the Tasmanian Arts
Advisory Board.
The Museum’s strong program of co-operative projects has
continued throughout the year. Highlights of these projects
have been those with the Forestry Commission to document
and excavate a second Chinese tin miners’ hut and associated
workings in north-eastern Tasmania, and the TAFE Tasmania
Metals and Engineering partnership which centred on the
restoration of a Marshall portable steam engine from the
Museum’s collection.
A feature of the year was the sustained level of community
support for the Museum. The volunteer program continues to
bring a wide range of additional skills to the Museum’s
programs. In particular the Volunteer Guides have continued to
provide an active program of support for the exhibition
program.
The Museum’s collections have continued to develop through
the generosity of so many and this is increasingly seen in the
Museum’s exhibition and education programs. As the new
facilities and exhibitions at both sites are developed, the
importance of the Museum’s collections and the generosity of
the northern Tasmanian community becomes increasingly
apparent.
The changes in the Museum’s operations since the opening of
Inveresk were reflected in the restructure of the Museum’s
management with the establishment of two new
departments–Visitor Programs and Services, and Collections
and Information Services. Over the coming year a review of
the operations of the Museum will ensure that we remain
focussed on providing a quality facility for northern Tasmania.
This year has proved to be a challenging one for the Museum’s
staff, volunteers and Friends. It has been a year in which they
have more than met the challenge with their great commitment
and ability.
Chris Tassell
Director
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