'Like a death in the family': precious South West exhibits burn
Precious artefacts and exhibits have been lost forever following last month's devastating blaze at Busselton's Old Butter Factory.
The fire left a damage bill of $400,000, but no price can be put on the loss of historical items destroyed when flames engulfed the building's second floor.
Smoke billows from the second storey of the Old Butter Factory Museum.
Photo: Michael Torrent..Busselton Historical Society president Sandra Johnston said the fire claimed the museum’s most valuable historical collection.
“All the wedding dresses are gone as is the cape Stewart Bovell was knighted in and the furniture in the main upstairs room,” she said.
“The other three rooms with the nursery, music room and kitchen are all badly smoked-damaged.”
Ms Johnston said the loss was like a death in the family for the volunteers.
“For the first few days everyone was in tears,” she said.
“It was horrid, we are exhausted but we are thankful more damage wasn’t done.”
Beautiful historic dresses on the second floor were destroyed.
Photo: Megan Williams Lawless from Memories of Busselton.More than 30 firefighters from Busselton, Dunsborough and Bunbury were involved in saving the historic Busselton building.
Ms Johnston praised the volunteer firefighters for their quick response to the situation.
“Without them there would be no museum, and that is not an exaggeration,” she said.
“They saved the museum by containing it to the one room.
“I can’t say enough about them, downstairs is in exceptionally good condition, with almost no damage and that is down to their skills and efforts.”
The City of Busselton will work with museum board and volunteers as well as the members of the Busselton Pottery Club who share the Butter Factory premises, to plan a schedule of works aimed at reopening the building as soon as possible.
The first step would be to ensure the building was safe and this would include an asbestos contamination risk assessment.
City of Busselton Mayor Grant Henley said council shared the upset of museum personnel and the broader community and would do all it could to progress repair work and ensure the building was operational in the shortest possible time frame.
The Old Butter Factory recently celebrated 100 years with an official ceremony for former workers and families and a community open day.
WA's Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister David Templeman, who attended the centenary celebrations, has expressed his sadness to Ms Johnston and the Busselton Historical Society volunteers.
“This is a significant loss for the local community and the state as a whole,” he said.
“I have asked the Western Australian Museum and State Heritage to assist in any way possible.”
Ms Johnston thanked the community for the outpouring of support and offers of donations.
A Go Fund Me page will be set up in coming days.