The Mayor and or the Derwent Valley Council has approved or given approval for three museums in the last 4 years at Willow Court, two are in the Council’s owned areas, The Barracks and Frascati House and the latest endorsement is in print on the front page article of the Derwent Valley Gazette.
In this article Hadyn and Penny Pearce, Antique Dealers and Collectors originally from Sydney are purposing to install a museum of Willow Court artifacts in their privately owned area of Willow Court after the donation of two fire helmets recently sold at auction.
This will mean that there will be three museums within a 200 metre area all dealing with the same history and all trying to tell the same stories if all go ahead.
It is a concern that this can happen, but it’s has been a measure of the Council’s recent ability to plan or follow their own plans in this area. The Mayor appears to be approving of all ideas, even if they are the same, and yet the Derwent Valley Council still has plans to sell or lease the site before the next Council elections!
While Hadyn and Penny are calling for donations for their new private venture their policy around ownership of donated items is not clear yet, but there is a clear policy and procedure in place from the Willow Court Conservation Special Committee, who put into place a “complex collection and de-accessioning policy” back in 2013. The existing collections has been extensively researched and modified to note all assets within the currently expanding collection by the PhD students supported and directed by Associate Professor Heather Burke at the Flinders University while on field evaluation.
If you are considering any loan or donation of goods be assured that this system is working and recording these valuable items so they can stay in the collection for the Community’s benefit. Please contact any member of the Friends of Willow Court or private email me and I will put you in contact with a committee member.
“Derwent Valley Council Mayor Martyn Evans said he liked the idea of a museum.” Reported in the Derwent Valley Gazette September 2015
Restoration of Frascati House, with inclusion of a high quality conferencing facility, museum including nursing memorabilia…” June 2015 Derwent Valley Council.
“A complete makeover of the “Willow Court brand” be undertaken so that ALL dimensions are featured, including the treatment and history of mental illness” Malcolm MacDonald & Associates 2011 a Report commissioned by the Derwent Valley Council.