QMM eyes $2.5m upgrade, calls for funding

IN THE lead-up to the federal election, the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum (QMM) is calling for bipartisan support for a major revitalisation project at its site on Wharf Street.

Outlined in the museum’s four-year strategic plan, the $2.5 million project strives to expand and modernise the museum’s facilities to enhance its reputation as an educational, cultural and economic asset to the region and ensure its ability to meet evolving visitor expectations into the future.

At the centre of the project is the transformation of the museum-owned Fisherman’s Co-op Building – which was constructed in 1949 and sits next to the museum on Wharf Street – into an interactive exhibition space.

The museum’s vision for the space includes a dedicated exhibition on the region’s fishing industry, with maritime artifacts such as a historic couta boat, hands-on learning zones enhanced with multimedia storytelling capabilities and an expanded floorspace to better showcase QMM’s growing collection.

QMM president Kerri Erler said the revitalisation of the museum would boost tourism year-round, increase visitation, support local businesses and drive regional economic growth.

“This project is about strengthening our community, preserving and honouring our rich maritime history, and investing in our future,” she said.

As part of the revitalisation project, QMM is also hoping to:

• Refurbish the current museum space, using sustainable and eco-friendly design practices
• Construct new spaces that can be used for workshops, community events and cultural programming
• Adopt advanced conservation techniques to better protect the museum’s delicate artifacts, and
• Introduce more technology-driven experiences that bring maritime stories to life, including virtual tours and online education resources to engage global audiences.

Ms Erler said government support was vital to safeguard the region’s maritime heritage and create a world-class museum experience, and urged all parties to commit the funding required to undertake the project to ensure the museum “can continue to enrich the community for many years to come”.

For more information, contact QMM by emailing [email protected] or phoning 5258 3440.

To learn more about the museum, head to maritimequeenscliffe.org.au