Museum tours move into the 21st century

Kim Waters
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum has swept aside dusty relics and old-fashioned displays and moved into a new age of interactive education.
The museum received a $3175 State Government Local History grant last week for the development of an interpretive tour and online education resource.
Museum secretary June Negri said the interactive tour will include a guided historic walk around the town detailing the history of the Queenscliff Harbour and the Fishermen’s Flat precinct.
The new program will also feature a virtual town tour and an interactive quiz.
Ms Negri said the project was initiated after requests from teachers and group leaders for a structured, educational and interactive museum activity.
“The Fishermen’s Flat area near the harbour was one of the first parts of Queenscliff occupied by settlers and this interpretive tour will capture and preserve the stories of the area and foreshore,” Ms Negri said.
“The spot was only occupied by boat builders and fishermen much like the mining areas in Ballarat and Bendigo.
“The land was leased out until about 1968, and when they changed the land leases for the mining towns they also changed the lease on the Fishermen’s Flat to a freehold title.”
She predicted tours would start towards the end of the year and hoped the new program would attract visitors.
“Like any not-for-profit organisation we rely on visitors to keep us open,” Ms Negri said.
“School groups and adult tours are how we keep the museum going so I’m hoping this will be a popular attraction for visitors.”