Out with the old to make way for the older as historical society receives grants to make big changes

The Waroona Historical Society is in the midst of a revamp to make new space for some of its oldest items.

The society is installing new shelving in its historical building thanks to donations from the Waroona Alcoa Sustainability Fund and a Lotterywest grant.

Alcoa donated $15,000 to facilitate the changes and Lotterywest chipped in $10,400.

The influx of funds has enabled the society to tear down old shelving at the front of the museum and replace it with hand-crafted jarrah wood cupboards purpose-built for the space.

Society president Debra Tyler said the old shelving had served its time and it was time for a spruce up.

“It’s just a revamp of this whole area,” she said.

She said the displays would most likely be of smaller objects from old kitchen items to historical knick-knacks that suited being protected in the new cupboard spaces.

Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke presented the historical society with the Lotterywest grant late last month.

She said it would go a long way to help preserve local historical heritage in Waroona.

“I know the money will be put to good use making some beautiful jarrah wood shelving and display cabinets,” she said.

Ms Tyler thanked Alcoa and Lotterywest for their contributions and said it would go a long way to making their museum more attractive.

She said there was no confirmed timeline for the work but the historical society would continue welcoming visitors every Sunday from 10am to noon.