Greenough Museum and Gardens volunteers recognised for a decade of hard work with WA Heritage Award nomination

Greenough Museum and Gardens has been recognised with a WA Heritage Award nomination for the efforts of its volunteers in transforming the location.

The museum was nominated for the community-based organisation prize at the 2022 WA Heritage Awards as the awards celebrate their 30th anniversary.

The museum was established in 1966 and is the oldest museum in the Mid West, but was in need of an upgrade in 2012 when the Greenough Museum and Gardens Community Association took over.

Curator Gary Martin said it was fantastic to see the volunteers’ labour of love for their community and local history be recognised on a State level.

“It was just a typical old local history museum, just crammed full of stuff, poorly interpreted, it was just not very inspiring, “ he said.

“We started off with a bare museum, and through the generosity of donors, we’ve now got a really great collection.”

The team of eight active volunteers manage the museum, keeping it clean and maintaining the gardens, and they frequently hold community events.

“We’ve turned this museum into an amazing, friendly, interactive, fun place for visitors and volunteers,” Mr Martin said.

Greenough Museum is the only location in the Mid West nominated for an award.

In its nomination the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage wrote that the Greenough volunteers “have created a vibrant, friendly museum that showcases the district’s history with a curated collection of objects, artworks, photographs, archives and family histories,” including the region’s Aboriginal heritage.

Heritage Minister David Templeman said the nominees showcased the best of WA’s history and how it can be woven together with modern ways of life.

“I congratulate all the finalists and wish them the best of luck at the 2022 WA Heritage Awards on November 25,” he said.