WARRNAMBOOL PIONEERS BOARD

 

THE BOYS ARE BACK

The arrival of the Pioneer Board at HeritageWorks was a time of great excitement but …

After our first enthusiasm we became aware of the deterioration of the board in general and the fragile state of the most crucial element – the 204 images and the water colours depicting our town in its earliest days,

With a grant from WCC Community Development Fund we had a heritage consultant prepare a report on the significance of the board and an assessment of the most urgent work to be done to hold back the ravages of time.

"The Pioneers Board of Warrnambool & District honour board and its contents are of historic, artistic, research and social significance at a local, state and national level.

It is also the only pioneer honour board to have been made by and associated with a woman photographer and artist. It is also the only honour board of its type to be on permanent display.

After ascertaining that this item was significant and was in need of urgent attention we got a quote from Grimwade Centre for Cultural Material Conservation at Melbourne University of almost $50,000.

Next came the inevitable - an appeal for funds for the conservation work.

As usual the community was very generous with the philanthropic trusts leading the way and so many local residents and numerous others from much further afield contributing.

In May last year the expert team descended on HeritageWorks to move the board.

There was a great deal of conjecture about whether it was possible to get this board out that door!

The condition of the object was documented before treatment in written and photographic form.

Edward Alexander Vidler  and the board

Names of Pioneers

Brief History of Warrnambool's Honour Board

Event Time Line

A book compiled of the history of all 104 Pioneers is in the making. For expression of interest please email HeritageWorks at wboolheritageworks@gmail.com with your details and your name will be added to the order list.

 

Pioneers' Board

At the HeritageWorks Gilles Street Warrnambool 

 

 

The Unveiling Launch of Pioneers Warrnambool