Annual Report 2001-2002 - Western Australian Museum - The ...

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Executive Director’s Review
OVERVIEW OF CORE FUNCTIONS
Collections Management
During the year, the Museum car collection was saved from major corrosion problems by the
work of the Materials Conservation Department and the team of Marine Engineers. Six cars
now operate under concession licences that allow them to be driven without special permits.
The vessels Lady Forrest, Valdura and Trixen were conserved on time for installation in the new
Maritime Museum.
A computerised specimen collections management system was developed that is generic and
accommodates all modern fauna collections.
The Dampier and de Freycinet maritime archaeology reports were completed and disseminated
to stakeholders here and in Britain, France and the Ascension and Falkland islands. Replicas of
the recovered Roebuck bell and clam are being made at the Mary Rose laboratories in
Portsmouth, England, and a decision on touring the originals to Western Australia is awaited.
The history-making yacht Australia II competed in the America’s Cup Jubilee Regatta at Cowes
in August, and received the prestigious award as the yacht that brought the greatest benefit to
the sport by its participation.
A total of 631 monographs were added to the Museum’s library collection and catalogued to
international standards, and 2,290 journal issues were accessioned.
Knowledge Generation
Conservators began a 100-year management program associated with the sinking of HMAS
Perth in Albany, which complements the HMAS Swan project off Dunsborough. The program
will assess the environmental impact of artificial reefs on the organisms living in the sediments
surrounding the wrecks.
Research conducted in Antarctica on Mawson’s Huts led to the Australian Government
developing a plan for a major expedition to conserve these structures.
Among many staff achievements during the year, Fred Wells was elected for a three-year term
as President of Unitas Malacologica, and Jane Fromont was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to
study the type material of Western Australian sponge species held in overseas museums.
The Golden Gecko Award for Environmental Excellence was presented jointly to the Museum
and Woodside Energy Ltd for the Dampier Archipelago marine biology project. The award citation
noted that the research will be of immense value to Western Australia and the international
scientific community.
Maritime Archaeology carried out extensive research in the fields of geosurvey, side-scan sonar
and high-digital underwater photography during field trips to Bodrum (Turkey), Roebuck Bay
(Broome), the Deepwater Graveyard (off Rottnest) and Chuuk Lagoon (Micronesia), as well as
while working with local companies.
Knowledge Communication
The construction of the new Maritime Museum was completed in May and the building was
handed over by the Minister for Housing and Works to the Minister for Culture and the Arts. The
completion of the building was celebrated with more than 600 stakeholders and local community
members at a ‘Twilight Preview’.
Development of exhibitions for the new Maritime Museum progressed through the year. The
historic boats and other large objects for display were relocated from B-Shed to temporary
premises for restoration work and conservation. More than 1,000 objects were treated by
conservation staff, and the text graphic for the galleries was finalised. Exhibition fit-out of the
new museum is now under way, with the opening scheduled for late 2002.
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM ANNUAL REPORT 2001–2002