Queensland Museum & Community Collections

Just after returning home from the official opening of Babinda Museum on 21 January 2023, my phone beeped. I opened a message from Tanya, one of the committee members, that read simply: “OMG!!! We opened a museum!!!” The joy that exudes from these few words is just priceless, and illustrates the raw energy that has typified my interaction with this group over the past five years.

In the beginning

When I first visited Babinda in 2017, I was shown a narrow shop in Babinda’s main street that needed a total overhaul and a skeleton collection of objects. There was no budget, and the volunteers had little experience in museums. But, they told me, they loved them and wanted to have one in their town.

Developing a community museum from scratch is not an easy task. Apart from needing a building and collection, you also need policies, great stories and a budget! Add to that a group of people who are not afraid of hard work and then, just maybe, it might be possible. I recall my initial hesitation, but pretty quickly realized this group were ready for the challenge ahead.

We started with a strategic plan. This led to a flurry of activity and grant writing, and the building being gutted and renovated. Securing nine display cases no longer required by Queensland Museum’s Discovery Centre was a great score. But, we still had to write a grant to get them transported, and borrow a forklift from the local supermarket to get them into the museum. The volunteers then began the process of refurbishment and transformation.

In 2020, however, progress stalled. The team endured the isolation of COVID and the disappointment that comes from unsuccessful grant applications. But they refused to give up. In the interim, they created the Babinda Museum Walk, comprising interpretation signage for buildings around town. At the same time, they continued to work on the museum, reaching out to local Bama to seek permission to tell stories and searching the community for compelling objects.

Back on track

In 2022, a grant to help with graphic design, and another to finish the building, got things moving again. Heads down, the curatorial concept was finalized, stories were chosen for the cases and we wrote the copy for the panels. At the same time, local craftsman, Frank Antoni began building exhibition furniture, museum fixtures and plinths for the cases.

The final push began in October 2022. Editing, finalizing content, finding high resolution images, identifying printers, painting the museum and installing multimedia. All this, as well as their inspired final funding drive that saw the community donate almost $30K in just over eight weeks to get the project over the line.

In January 2023, it was time for installation. Wanjuru-Yidinji Bama performed a smoking ceremony before the objects they made were installed in the case. Our team included all 10 museum committee volunteers, MDO Ewen McPhee and myself, and together we raced towards the opening. In between me repeating my “less is more” mantra and the groans from the team as they tried to sneak things in, the work was fulfilling and museum filled with laughter.

Before we knew it, opening day arrived. After thousands of hours of volunteer work, grant applications, fund raising activities, curatorial training and design development, meetings at the pub, morning teas and fieldtrips, the museum was ready to open. More than 150 people packed the footpath of Babinda’s main street to listen to speeches before the doors were opened. Dignitaries and and community members all filed through together to take a first look at the brand new museum.

It has been a delight to help this group bring their project to life. Along the way I’ve refined my own skills, learned a thing or two about Babinda, and been warmly welcomed into the community. Make sure you stop by and visit if you’re ever in the region!