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

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Western Australian Museum–
Kalgoorlie-Boulder
COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT
A major initiative in collections management was the transfer of information from a card index
to a computer database. This work began with the assistance of a volunteer from Museum
Friends and Museum staff, who are gradually entering the data.
Some large and notable objects have been added to the collection during the past year. The
Tower Wagon, which had been at Conservation for some time, was carefully packed into a truck
and transported to Kalgoorlie. This purpose-built wagon from the early 1900s was used by
repair teams for the maintenance of tram lines in Kalgoorlie and Boulder.
The Museum has had a Cobb and Co. coach in its collection since 1924, and during this year it
was transferred from the Geraldton branch to Kalgoorlie-Boulder for display in the main gallery.
This coach operated in the Murchison and the Eastern Goldfields from 1892 to 1910.
The Museum has acquired two vehicles that represent important histories concerning the
goldfields. The Department of Conservation and Land Management offered an early 1925
Chevrolet truck that was used by Bill Savage until his death in 1994. Bill Savage modified the
truck to pull sandalwood trees and transport the timber to his camp. Goldfields prospector
Jack Otway presented his 1968 Series II Landrover, which he used to prospect for gold. Jack
Otway modified the vehicle, which is in running condition, with steel plates to protect the engine
and transmission from tree stumps.
Noted gramophone and phonograph enthusiast Richard Rennie visited the Museum and offered
to service the Edison Triumph phonograph and Rexonola gramophone. The Edison phonograph
mechanism had been in a seized condition since acquisition; however, after extensive cleaning
the characteristic high-pitched sounds of an Edison phonograph have echoed through the
Museum.
In May a deal was struck for the lease of gold bar K00001, following years of negotiation involving
government ministers, Museum staff and community members. The Museum thanks all those
who assisted.
KNOWLEDGE GENERATION
The ethno-botanic garden earthworks were completed in late October, and the seedlings of
species that represent bush tucker, tool and medicinal plants were obtained in June. The Acting
Regional Manager liaised with the Department of Education’s District Art Officer to involve
children of Eastern Goldfields schools in the design, firing and installation of ceramic tiles for
the garden’s walkway. The art project is in the final stage and will be completed in 2003.
In October, the Council of Australian Museum Directors held a board meeting at the Museum
on the eve of the Fifth National Remote and Regional Museums Conference, which was hosted
by the Museum. The conference’s welcome function, held concurrently with the welcome for
the Country Tourism Awards, was a huge success, with about 350 guests attending.
The Acting Branch Manager participated on the National Trust’s Golden Pipeline Project
committee and will continue to provide advice to this important project. In February, Geoff
Spiller’s book Gold and Liquid Gold: Obsolete Breweries of the Goldfields, which was published
by the Museum, was launched at Kalgoorlie’s remaining brewery, the Black Stump Brewery Bar.
In May the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Council called a meeting of people interested in the redevelopment
of upper Hannan Street in the Museum’s courtyard. This meeting provided a way for traders,
venue operators and the Museum to discuss the Museum redevelopment with council planners
and to identify issues of concern.
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM ANNUAL REPORT 2001–2002