Preliminary Planning Starts For Regional Museum

Preliminary planning has started for the creation of a regional museum to showcase the region’s history and stories.

Following extensive community consultation around the Mackay Region Museums Development Plan in 2020 and the Mackay Arts and Culture Strategy in 2023, council is moving to refine and consolidate its museum collections.

Mayor Greg Williamson said council had an exciting opportunity to create a facility that would offer a “hero” experience for those with an interest in history and heritage.

“Museums can be huge tourism drawcards,” Mayor Williamson said.

“During the consultation of the museums plan, 87 per cent of respondents said they liked to visit museums while travelling, but only a very small percentage said they would visit more than two sites in the one trip,” he said.

“Respondents also listed amenities, like cafes and gift shops, and interactive, hands-on displays as high priorities, especially for younger visitors.

“We know that local interest and investment in our heritage offerings has waned over the years, and people are generally not attending the museums in their current state.

“That’s not a reflection on the tremendous volunteers or staff who put in an amazing effort to run these facilities; it’s a reflection that our current historical offerings just aren’t hitting the mark.

“We need a hero offering that can better service our community and visitors alike.

“The potential to have a facility that can host travelling exhibitions and interactive displays is very exciting.”

Mayor Williamson said one of the objectives of the Mackay Arts and Culture Strategy was enhancing and extending existing facilities to grow engagement with diverse experiences.

“With this objective in mind, there’s also the potential to activate one of our heritage-listed City Centre buildings that are currently sitting vacant as a stopgap while a permanent regional museum location can be decided on,” he said.

Director Community Services Janine McKay said rationalisation of the museum collections would help identify and protect the most significant artifacts in our collection and identify gaps.

“As the team focus efforts on the rationalisation process and planning for the regional museum, and considering recent damage from weather events and vandalism, it is just not feasible to reopen the Mackay and Sarina museums,” Ms McKay said.

“We will also need to make some changes at Pioneer Valley Museum. However, we are lucky that that facility is connected to the Mirani Library and the Library team can take over the management of the museum for the immediate future,” she said.

“This will not only free up our Museums team to work towards the museums consolidation, but it will also mean that we will be able to open the museum for the same hours as the library, Monday to Saturday.”

Discussions are under way with Mackay Historical Society and Mackay Family History Society around the future use of the Mackay Museum building.

Council is currently exploring options for the Sarina Museum building and will consult with museum volunteers around establishing rotating displays in regional areas showcasing the local history to residents and visitors.

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Museum team members Katrina Dunbar (left) and Trish Roderick working on the museum rationalisation project. Photo supplied: Mackay Regional Council

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