‘Stored in sheds’: Dunsborough Historical Society’s plea for a dedicated site to protect 100 years of history

The Dunsborough Historical Society is continuing its long-running push for a permanent home, with its collection still being stored in sheds and garages 30 years after the issue was first raised. Speaking at the April 29 City of Busselton council meeting, group chairperson Margaret Baxter said the society had been operating without a dedicated premises since 1993. “This historical collection goes back over 100-plus years,” she said. “We are the guardians of this historical legacy, and bear the responsibility of ensuring its continued preservation. “All administration and documentation are completed from my own kitchen table. “Currently, all valuable material and artefacts are stored in our own private garden sheds.” Ms Baxter said the society understood the challenges in identifying suitable facilities but was willing to assist in finding a solution, including applying for grants and working with local trades to create a purpose-built space. Cr Anne Ryan spearheaded a push to find a permanent home for the historical society, raising a motion for the chief executive to investigate a potential future site and for a report to be brought back to the council. “Despite many meetings and discussions, DHS are disappointed that no solution has been forthcoming so far in my time on council,” she said. “The historical society have presented to elected members on a number of occasions in a hope of finding somewhere suitable. “Staff had suggested the Yallingup Hall is not appropriate, nor the Dunsborough Toy Library . . . the Lions Shed was the last option suggested to the chief executive, and he said ‘great idea’, but we got nothing back, and there’s been no feedback to councillors on any assistance for the historical society.” Cr Jarrod Kennedy spoke against the motion, noting competing demands for space from other community groups. “Precious Plastics wanted somewhere, Acting Up needed somewhere to store all their costumes, and the Busselton Museum also need more land,” he said. “There has been more, so we have a lot on our plate and I feel this will get looked at. It’s not something that’s thrown away, but I don’t feel like the time is now.” The motion was carried 8-1.