The Morrison Government will invest $155,000 to ensure priceless artefacts in the James Cook Museum in Cooktown are preserved for generations to come.
The museum’s roof has fallen into a state of disrepair and needs urgent repairs.
The former convent, now owned and operated by the National Trust of Australia (Queensland), is one of Cooktown’s major attractions.
The museum houses an extensive collection of local Guugu Yimithiir artefacts, along with an original anchor and canon from HMB Endeavour and a model of the ship that dates to the early twentieth century.
The museum also celebrates the history of the convent and the nuns and children who lived there until the 1940’s and displays telling the stories of the Chinese immigrants and the Gold Rush era in the Far North.
Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said the funding would be used to repair the leaking roof ensuring historical artefacts in the museum could be appreciated for generations to come.
“The James Cook Museum is one of Cooktown’s major attractions and it was important to ensure the historical artefacts contained inside were preserved,” Mr Entsch said.
“Once the urgent repairs works are completed, it will ensure the museum can continue to be appreciated by the thousands of people who visit each year.”
National Trust of Australia (Queensland) Acting CEO Jayme Cuttriss thanked the Australian Government for the funding to support desperately needed repair works.
“This museum is important to the community, to the visitors to Cooktown and to Australia as it houses the fascinating stories of Cooktown including the first recorded Act of Reconciliation between Lt. Cook and the Guugu Yimithirr,” Ms Cuttriss said.
“Cooktown is a very special place and I am so pleased that we will be able to receive this much needed funding to secure the convent building and improve the visitor experience.
“It is very important that we conserve the socially significant collection of artefacts that are displayed here.
“We thank Warren Entsch for listening to our request for help over this very difficult time for the National Trust in Queensland.
“Without him this project would have remained stalled and the building would be at risk of further deterioration.
“We express our sincere gratitude to Mr Entsch and to the community that have supported the Museum fondly over the years.”
