Mansfield Heritage Museum – Exhibit & Fit-out Design Commences

Published on 21 February 2025

The future Mansfield Heritage Museum is a step closer to bringing local history to life with new designers appointed and beginning their concept designs for the museum exhibits and fit-out following the completion of external construction works for the new building.

The new design consultant, Studio Johnson, was selected through a competitive process. Andrew Johnson, founder of Studio Johnson, has worked with the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery in Launceston, the Tasmanian Aviation Historical Society and the HIVE Science Centre on the Central Coast. He has worked in a range of creative industries as a designer, artist and project manager including events, television, trade exhibitions, museums, galleries and public art commissions.

Andrew recently visited the site and consulted with project stakeholders, including members of the Mansfield Historical Society, Taungurung Land and Waters Council, Mansfield Cultural Heritage Arts Centre (MCHAC) and experts in fish fossils and palaeontology, in a collaboration supported by Mansfield Shire Council.

Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said this project would be the most significant cultural project the Shire has ever seen.

“This is an excellent example of a truly community-led project, with a shared vision for a spectacular outcome,” said Cr Rabie.

“These project stakeholders have worked together for years to bring a museum to Mansfield. Now, the external construction has been delivered and the next phase is to design the exciting spaces and exhibitions that will bring our history to life.”

The Mansfield Historical Society has been one of the main community advocates for a museum in Mansfield for the last 40 years.

Graeme Stoney AM, President of the Mansfield Historical Society, emphasised that the local community has demonstrated that it was right behind the project.

"The Society launched an appeal last year which was quickly supported by Mansfield people and now means we have over $300,000 in the bank.

“These generous donations in turn have helped to attract supporting government funding which means it looks likely we will have the full $600,000 required to build exhibits to a standard that Mansfield will be proud of.

"This is an example how strong communities like Mansfield, which includes our very active Shire Council, can pitch in and help themselves and not just wait for handouts which may never arrive,” Mr Stoney concluded.

Taungurung Land & Waters Council (TLaWC) representative, Aunty Angela ten Buuren (Franklin), said “It is a great honour to share the history and contemporary culture of the First Peoples of the Mansfield Shire, the Taungurung people. Mansfield is home to the Yowung illam balluk clan. The exhibitions we are developing for the museum will reflect Taungurung peoples’ connection to this land from time immemorial. It is a significant opportunity as a Taungurung Elder and member of the Local Aboriginal Network Gadhaba, which translates to ‘together’, to tell our stories of survival, and welcome members of our community into the new museum.”

Will Twycross, President of MCHAC, said this was an exciting phase of the project.

“This is the biggest public infrastructure project since the Rail Trail was developed, and in cultural, community and heritage terms, of far more significance. It is essentially the realisation of the dream that started almost 50 years ago, when community action resulted in the Railway Precinct being saved from private sale, and preserved for community use,” he said.

“It is a golden opportunity for whole of community story telling and the further evolution of our shared sense of belonging.”

Consultation and concept development will continue over the coming months to ensure that the museum is a meaningful resource for the Mansfield Shire community into the future.

It is expected that the design drawings will be completed mid-2025.