A detailed design for the $3.4 million revamp of the Museum of the Riverina’s Botanic Gardens site will soon start. 

Museum manager Luke Grealy said the project is mainly aimed at the “unsexy” practical side which will enable the site to provide a better experience for residents and visitors. 

“The primary goal of this grant was to improve storage because we were at a crisis point and we were overflowing, leaving objects at risk,” he said, 

“Good museum practice is to freeze your textiles, such as historical clothes, on a regular basis and we have a chest but we plan to have a small walk-in freezer which means we can do it on a more efficient basis.” 

“Seventy per cent of this project is about storing and caring for the items.” 

A second priority is to improve public access by landscaping the back area, Mr Grealy said. 

“This will make it accessible for people with disabilities all the way to the back because now it’s a bumpy, slopey hill,” he said. 

The museum was opened in 1966 thanks to the efforts of volunteers who worked tirelessly to keep it running, Mr Grealy said. 

“They moved sites, built sheds and all that,” he said.

“Then in 1999 council took over the management of the site. 

“We have never had an injection of cash as big as this in the history of the museum so it is very exciting.” 

Mr Grealy said the entire team are working hard to make sure all the items are cared for properly in the transition.

“We are all looking forward to the ribbon cutting in a couple of years,” he said. 

“We will be able to properly care for and look after the collection.” 

Recently, councillors voted to accept Panovscott Pty Ltd’s tender of $166,360 for the detailed design stage of the redevelopment.

Earlier this year, council resolved to accept the NSW government funding of $3,188,383 to deliver the redevelopment. 

This amount was met with $220,000 in council funding. 

The redevelopment is scheduled to be finished in mid-2020.