Capital Projects
One of the most common comments we hear is "Wow, the Museum's really changing, there's lots happening there". Why? In recent years, we have taken a number of significant steps forward in improving the aesthetic, heritage and curatorial value of the Museum. With our small team, we have accomplished large or complex projects, and so are no strangers to making the best use of available funds and resources.
Here are some examples that prove our success in this field. We also include a peek into our forthcoming Britannia Masterplan, a major redevelopment project to shape our future.
Mill 3 Rehabilitation
Over a two-year period, ending in April 2007, the rusting, crumbling exterior of Mill 3, was given a $5 million facelift. This project was completed on budget and on time. Structural work, exterior cladding and roofing was replaced by external contractors. The Museum project managed the replacement of the 900 windows, (salvaging and restoring 650 of them), and also conducted the on-site project management.
Lime Tank Restoration
Following the success of the rehabilitation of Mill 3, our next project was to restore the historic Lime Tank, used to support the Mill operations. Unlikely to survive another winter, a restoration team undertook the challenge to demolish what couldn't be saved, and rebuild the tank, including a new set of stairs to allow visitors to see the still-working machinery; a challenge compounded by the fact that we had no original blueprints or drawings to utilize. We received a Charitable Gaming Direct Access grant to allow us to complete the project.
Collections Care Project
A collection of artefacts and archives is at the heart of any museum. In recent years, the curatorial focus here has been on completing an inventory of our Collections. In 2008, our capital project has been to renovate our historic Lead Plant building into a dedicated Collections store, where our artefacts can be consolidated into one environmentally controlled space. Doing this will allow us to enhance the longevity of the artefacts and to improve physical and therefore intellectual access to them.
Britannia Masterplan
As part of the overall Britannia Beach regeneration project, the Museum is undertaking a major redevelopment phase. Including the new Beaty Lundin Visitor Centre, new exhibits and other features, this project will continue us on our journey to become a Museum of excellence. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you would like more information on this project.
