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Tram museum gets support

June 30, 2022 BY

All aboard: The funding marks the first instance of government support for the museum space after staff initially raised $2 million over a decade of development. Photo: TIM BOTTAMS

BALLARAT Tramway Museum’s facility is set for its final stages of development with $200,000 in State Government funding.

Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison visited the museum last week and said the support will make the building more accommodating to all visitors.

“There’s some people who haven’t been able to enjoy those tram rides because of accessibility issues and that’s what today is about,” she said.

“It’s a win for the tram museum, it’s a win for the community, it’s a win for people with disabilities and it’s a win for local jobs and the economy.”

Part of the Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund, the money will facilitate wheelchair ramps and disability access for the museum’s ridable trams.

Additional developments include virtual reality displays and touch boards, display booths, children’s activities like puzzles and a buildable tram, and further signage for the exhibited cars.

Audio tours will be available in English and Chinese via QR code, and the trams on show will be lit with display lighting.

Ballarat Tramway Museum facilities manager Peter Waugh said the additions will take the spaces offerings to the next level.

“What we’re lacking is some of the smaller hands-on things to look at and touch up close,” he said.

“You can walk around and look at the trams but this is putting that detail into the place. That makes us a destination. You decide to come here rather than find it when you walk past.”

“It means this whole precinct will become a drawcard. Ballarat’s more than just Sovereign Hill. You come up to Lake Wendouree and there’ll be enough stuff in the vicinity that you can spend the day here.”

The museum has over 70 volunteers among 250 members, and with the projects creating 17 construction jobs, it is expected the upgrades will be completed by 2023.