By NOEL MURPHY
THE SEARCH for Geelong’s missing link — a defining aspect to its history — is turning up some diverse and curious stories at the National Wool Museum.
The museum recently threw down the gauntlet, to mark its quarter century in Geelong, with an exhibition of Chinese footballers, Newtown gold mines, all manner of 19th century posters, maps, images and artefacts.
All up, there were 24 evocative items and related tales. The challenge to find the 25th was thrown open to the public and, according to museum director Padraic Fisher, has prompted all manner of suggestions.
Among them are ghost tales, sporting histories, architecture, natural features, iconic buildings and features, even Ned Kelly – who arrived here as a 14-year-old with gentleman bushranger Harry Power.
Likewise, Geelong’s legendary tunnels, ute inventor Lew Bandt, Wild White Man William Buckley, the Belcher Fountain, the T&G Building’s Farmer and Son, Eastern Beach’s Corio Villa, Eastern Beach pool, the soaring Moorabool railway viaduct, the former Market Square clock tower and Johnstone Park’s ‘Irish pyramid’ state government offices.
The winning entry’s not been finalised just yet, Mr Fisher told the Independent this week, while stressing the competition is part of a broader widening of the wool museum’s role in Geelong.
“There is a real desire or place in the community for the museum to really embrace its role as Geelong’s museum,” he said.
“Wool will always be at the heart of the museum … but there is a real longing for us to embrace our role and expand the stories that we tell and the things that we collect and on as more permanent basis.
“Whether that be transforming the foyer into a Geelong experience or one of the galleries into a ‘Geelong Experience’.
“The ‘Melbourne Experience’ at the Melbourne Museum is an overview of the heart and soul of Melbourne across industry and agriculture, sport and medicine — I think there’s a place for that here.”
The wool museum is presently working up two special exhibitions for later in the year, drawing heavily on Geelong collections and locally-held artefacts.
The first is a “Seeing Double” showcase drawing on an extensive range of stereoscopic photographs. The second is a Donald Bradman cricketing exhibition drawing on local collections and cricketing history.
“There are some very exciting artefacts and objects from cricket, cricket memorabilia that’s in private collections in the Geelong community. Oh yes, including a couple of significant ones from The Invincibles we’re hoping will be a part of this exhibition,” Mr Fisher said.
