02 December 2013

This Blog is moving

I would like to thank all those who have viewed this blog and to inform you that it is now moving. Greenough Museum blogs can now be viewed at www.greenoughmuseum.com. This blog will be discontinued shortly. Wishing you all a Happy Xmas and all the best for 2014.

12 October 2013

Why Do Museums Display Objects in Glass Cases?

The new Greenough Museum is a more hands-on experience. We actually encourage people to touch. However, there are some objects that need to be encased because of their significance to Greenough and their fragility. One such object is the Royce rockinghorse.
With support from the City of Greater Geraldton, a perspex case was made to place over this toy. When the perspex case arrived it was partially covered in brown paper, and a decision was made to leave that paper on so that visitors could write their comments about why this toy was encased.



This has been popular with both children and adults. Some of the comments written include:-

Very important to preserve, part of our history and can’t be replaced – Janice
Sometimes glass is appropriated but it diminishes the ‘real’ experience of being a part of history. Prefer no glass.
Why is it in a cage?
 Why not it is old and we have to keep memories – Jayga.
But memory is a thought, isn’t that enough? Let things die.
Nasty.
Yes, because when I was young we had a rocking horse and my aunt sold it as she didn’t value it. I’m 67 and still miss it.

An old-fashioned rose.

Last year, we were given 2 cuttings of a climbing rose, that came from a plant growing behind the Walkaway Hotel. Being a very vigorous grower, it soon covered the archway leading to the Vegie Garden. Now it has bloomed for the first time, and it's a beauty.
 

Not knowing its proper name, we refer to it as the "Tibradden Rose". This is because there is a  suggestion that this rose, also found growing on neighbouring pastoral properties to the east of Geraldton, could have been brought out from Ireland in the 1850s by the people who established those properties.

Preserving Objects

Elizabeth Maley was noted for her ability to preserve fruits and vegetables grown in her garden.
We are continuing that tradition, but with a new twist. So as to make smaller objects from the collection accessible to visitors, we are placing those objects in Fowlers preserving jars.

Free Book Exchange

As part of our commitment to make this museum more friendly to community and visitors, we have now installed a free book exchange just inside the front gate. This delightful little structure was made for us by The Menshed Geraldton and can hold approximately 14 books. So if you have a book you want to exchange come in and see what we have available.

22 April 2013

Seeking 8 significant toys from Greenough


This museum has just been given a “peekaboo’ cupboard courtesy of the WA Museum Geraldton.
 
 
With 9 separate compartments, when filled with toys the cupboard will be placed in the Children’s Room, where we hope it will enthral children and adults alike. We are now seeking 8 toys from Greenough that have stories to tell (whilst the children are attracted to the toys, it is the adults who like the stories).

The teddy bear in the central compartment is there to provide an example of the sort of toy we are seeking.
 
Teddy Bear c1990
This Teddy Bear was given to the donor when he was in his mid-thirties by his girlfriend. Lyn Bowron  was shocked to hear that Gary had never ever possessed a bear. “Boswell” sat ignored in the corner of his bedroom at Belay Farm, Walkaway, until claimed by Elizabeth (Beth) Parker, the donor’s niece. Beth promptly re-named him “My Bear” and took him home.
In early 1994, Beth returned the bear to Gary, stating that she now had enough toys of her own. On the 20th May 1994, four year old Beth Parker died in a freak accident at her Walkaway home.
The bear, now a bearer of unhappy memories was shoved into an outbuilding at Belay Farm, where it became fodder for rats.
Donated by Gary Martin 2013/19
 
Of course, I hope you have toys with much happier stories to tell! We hope to include a wide range of toys from the late 1800s to fairly recent times. The toys need to fit in a space that is 280mm wide by 240mm deep by 290mm high.
If you have a toy you are willing to donate for this project please contact the curator at the Greenough Museum by email pioneer_museum@westnet.com.au.


21 January 2013

Reconnected to the World

For the last three months we have been without Internet access (hence the scarcity of posts). Now happy to announce that the Greenough Museum once again is connected to the World.