THE Tramway Museum Society of Victoria says the Tramway Heritage Centre in Bylands is at future risk despite holding a financially viable position, with recent events and an ageing volunteer base hindering efforts.
In a press release, the Tramway Museum Society said there was plenty of frustration over a lack of assistance.
“Although the Society and its museum is still currently in a reasonable financially viable position, events of recent years have now placed in jeopardy the future of this facility, coupled with the ageing or limitations of our volunteer work base,” they wrote.
“The frustration of not being able to get assistance from Government is a concern, especially when your local Federal and State Members consistently fail to return phone calls, emails or even Facebook messages. The same applies to Local Government. To be honest it really shows what they think of supporting their local electorate, and our heritage.”
Regular copper thieves have also frustrated efforts to reopen the museum and with a risk of sheds collapsing, an agreement has been reached to loan trams to Ballarat.
“No 1 tram shed houses 10 trams and there is no other place to store these vehicles undercover at Bylands. We cannot leave the vehicles in the shed on a long-term basis for fear of the shed collapsing and destroying the heritage vehicles inside. We cannot store the vehicles outside in the open at Bylands as they will sustain weather damage, and possible vandalism,” they wrote.
“As a result, the Society Board have entered into an agreement with the operators of the Ballarat Tramway Museum to place on loan up to 10 tramcars from the Society’s collection – including several former Ballarat trams. These trams will be transferred to Ballarat’s operating or storage sites, with the availability for them to operate on the tourist tramway around Lake Wendouree. Several of the selected cars are presently undergoing restoration at Bylands, and Ballarat has indicated they would like to complete the restorations so the trams can return to service. The initial loan period will be 20 years with extensions optional.
“To remove 10 trams from Bylands allows us the flexibility to relocate any remaining trams from No 1 shed not transferred to Ballarat to other undercover locations on our site. This also avoids the need to store vehicles in the open. Of the 10 selected vehicles to go to Ballarat also include several of the museums more unique or historic vehicles that will be notable losses to the collection at Bylands. However, the safety of the vehicles and the chance to see them run again is the major point to consider here.
“The Society Board are very mindful of what it means to transfer exhibits off the site, and the possibility that they may never return. However, we also need to understand the current position the society and the museum is in.”
The Tramway Museum Society says its volunteer base is struggling and requires help to continue the Museum’s legacy.
“Then there are our volunteers. They are ageing, we like many other voluntary organisations struggle to recruit “younger” persons with an interest. The museum has over the years had to reduce its opening days and time to suit the availability of staff,” they wrote.
“So what is the future?
“Based on the situation at present, not bright. If the museum is forced to wind up it will mean the remaining exhibits will be distributed to any group that might be interested or sold off for other uses. The museum site will be sold off, and the museum would no longer exist, not only a great loss of tourism but Victoria’s heritage as well.
“In the current climate it is hard to see the Society or the museum survive into the distant future without help. That is why we have instigated the plan to loan trams off-site initially, not only for the benefit of the exhibits themselves, but the collection as a whole.”
