The Newcastle Maritime Museum Society has not ruled out a return to its former site at Honeysuckle, as volunteers work to revive the collection. Society president Steve Busteed and member Philip Kelly updated Newcastle councillors on their progress and future vision, with Busteed stating the ultimate goal is a permanent harbourside exhibition space.
An eleventh-hour solution stored the collection at the Newcastle Logistics Precinct after the lease at the showground expired. When asked about returning to the Lee Wharf A building, following news that the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation terminated Hope Estate's lease, Busteed said it was not off the table. However, he noted the site is intended for commercial use, and the society would need significant investment to return.
Busteed said the society previously invested $2.5 million and would likely need another $2.5 million to go back. He added that if the building were offered with repairs, they would probably accept. Kelly emphasised the society's aim is to raise the collection's profile, not manage or build a site, and other options like the old arts building are also being considered.
Over the past year, volunteers have conducted an accredited assessment of the collection, explored long-term storage, developed a concept for a regional travelling exhibition, and started digitisation for wider access. A crowdfunding campaign has raised nearly $15,000 from 30 donors, enough to purchase shipping containers to relocate the collection to Mayfield.
Busteed stressed the collection represents the lives of those in the maritime industry, not just boats. Labor councillor Elizabeth Adamcyzk praised the work and asked for updates, but Busteed said the society would cooperate with council without being managed by it. Donations are being accepted via trybooking.com/au/donate/maritimecollection.
