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 20^th 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.

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.

Old Museum - New Beginnings

After 46 years, the Geraldton Historical Society has departed from this museum, taking with them the collection. Whilst this might seem a disaster, it also allows the museum the opportunity to reinvent itself and make it more relevant to younger generations of visitors. Thus the headline "old museum - new beginnings."
In the meantime, most of the building has been closed off to allow for maintenance. We still encourage visitors. In this interim period, we suggest you stroll through the gardens, admire the historic trees and view the old farm machinery. The front room of the museum will also remain open  displaying images of the Maley family.

Farewell Camel Wagon

After being on display at this museum since 1967, the Boolardy camel wagon (reputedly one of the largest wagons ever built), left this museum for an unknown destination.

Dispersal of a collection

Over the last fortnight a small group from the Geraldton-Greenough Historical Society has been removing the collection from this museum. Apparently objects are being placed in storage, but no museum ethics are being followed during this removal. If you or your family donated objects to this museum, please contact the Geraldton-Greenough Historical Society gtonhistsoc@wn.com.au to determine where they have been relocated to, and what future plans the society has for those objects.

Distress Signal

With the long-term future of this museum uncertain, how appropriate that the Western Australian flag was flying upside-down today.

New and renewed

As these tuarts (planted in the early 1960s) matured, they expanded and pushed over the adjacent stone wall. Work has just been completed on erecting a new wire fence to fill the gap where the stone walls couldn't be rebuilt.