An original iron lung used in Queanbeyan during the polio epidemic in the ’50s. Photo: Belinda Strahorn

A piano that belonged to William Farrer, creator of the “Federation” strain of wheat. Photo: Belinda Strahorn

A Metters “Canberra” wood stove at the Queanbeyan Museum. Photo: Belinda Strahorn

VOLUNTEERS are pulling out all stops to ensure a longstanding museum in Queanbeyan doesn’t close its doors for good. 

The Queanbeyan Museum, which celebrates the history of the city and its people, has been badly impacted by a lack of visitors due to the pandemic.

The Queanbeyan and District Historical Museum Society Inc was established more than half a century ago, and the museum has operated out of the historic police sergeant’s residence on Monaro Street for the last 40 years. 

Fred Monk, the society’s treasurer, said prolonged lockdowns deprived tourists and school students the opportunity to visit the museum in 2020 and 2021, with the museum – which opened on weekends before covid –  now being forced to open by appointment only.

Mr Monk, 70, who’s been volunteering at the museum for 12 years, has issued a call to arms to keep the struggling museum going.

“We really need help and volunteers to make sure the doors don’t close here,” Mr Monk said.

“We need to keep memories alive. If we forget history, what have we got?”

The museum, which runs in partnership with the Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council, is trying to avoid a similar fate to many regional museums that have been forced to close permanently as a result of covid lockdowns, Mr Monk said.

“A lot of museums in country towns have closed,” said Mr Monk.

“The print museum next door is closed. It closed before covid because of volunteers.

“We are trying to avoid that [closing], but we need as many volunteers as we can get.”

Although the society has 85 members, Mr Monk said only 10 are active volunteers.

“The big problem is the competition because some of our members are grandparents looking after grandkids, some have jobs or play sports on the weekends, and others are senior citizens travelling the country and visiting family,” Mr Monk said.

The museum is home to a collection of more than 3500 items including an original iron lung used in Queanbeyan during the polio epidemic in the ’50s, an 1860s magistrate’s bench from the Farrer Street courthouse, and a piano that belonged to William Farrer, creator of the “Federation” strain of wheat.

One of Mr Monk’s favourite pieces is John James Wright’s 1138-page post office store journal, which records the transactions of local people in 1868-69.

“For anybody who has family from the region, this is a fantastic resource because you can see what things people bought during that time like tea, sugar, bacon and tobacco,” Mr Monk said.

“The ledger contains my great great grandmother Mary O’Rourke’s orders; she lived on a farm at Barracks Flat in the 1860s.” 

The museum is also home to an original blacksmith shop – from the Michelago area – and a 30-metre long mural of late 19th century Queanbeyan, painted by well-known Canberra artist Margaret Hadfield.

Two new exhibitions, featuring a collection of old cameras and another showcasing children’s toys and games from the past, are also on display.

“The toys and games’ exhibition was designed to show the schoolkids what their parents played with,” Mr Monk said.

“How many kids would know about pick-up sticks or have played with marbles before?”

Before covid, the museum was a popular place for community and school groups to visit, regularly hosting hundreds of children. 

“The loss of the school excursions has been one of the biggest impacts,” Mr Monk said.

“All the schools in the area would come and that could be up to 300 kids visiting at the one time. We’d also get group tours and a steady stream of visitors on the weekend.”

The society hopes students and other groups will return in 2022.

“We want to be in a position where when the schools start having excursions that we can open up and get schools visiting again,” said Mr Monk.

“In February, we have a couple of groups with about 30 people booked in to visit, which is really good.”

To become a volunteer or make an appointment to visit the Queanbeyan Museum, email mcglynn_john@hotmail.com or call 62972730.