Council backs history

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
PASSIONATE volunteers, community engagement and a treasure trove of history has won over councillors to support the Upper Yarra Museum.
The Upper Yarra Valley Historical Society will receive financial support of up to $40,000 from the Yarra Ranges Council over the next two years.
The funds will go towards re-stumping the original station building, managing collections and maintenance and supporting a future master plan.
It has been a huge step up for the Upper Yarra Valley Historical Society, which has had no regular income since the Shire amalgamation in 1994.
UYVHS president Keith Johnson said he was “tickled pink” at the support.
“We’ve struggled along for years,” he said.
“But this will help maintain the place for the next generation.”
Mr Johnson said the society were the trustees of “a collection of generosity from the community”.
“The development of tourism has tremendous potential … we want more people to access the museum,” he said.
The museum collection tells the story of Australia’s largest timber industry at the turn of the 20th century, housed within the former Yarra Junction train station.
The land is owned by the State Government, and managed by the Yarra Ranges Council. Meetings between the society, the State Government and council late last year (The Mail, 12 October) saw the council take action in January.
The council resolved a motion at last Tuesday’s 28 June meeting to support the museum over the next two years in planning for the long-term. Councillor Chris Templer, who has been a keen advocate for the museum, said the importance and value of the site was “unquestionable”.
“They need help and we’ve made some good steps forward,” he said.
Cr Len Cox congratulated the society on the “wonderful job” they had been doing.
“It’s one of the great treasures of the shire and some of the collections are very interesting indeed,” he said.
“I think this will improve the situation considerably.” In the past year members have been intensively cataloguing artefacts, upgrading displays and engaging up to 200 school students with local history.
They are looking forward to next year’s 30th Crank Up, which will also signify 40 years since the museum began.