The Living Museum’s Resources includes the collection of documents, tapes and artefacts which form the RESOURCE CENTRE, as well as the personnel and facilities at the Museum itself.
Published Books, Reports and Articles
Photocopied documents and copies of unpublished reports. These items are of relevance to the Western Region’s history and heritage, as well as dealing with issues relating to the region’s environment, planning, cultural activities and art. Many publications are available for purchase via the museum bookshop or through the post see our publications list. It is also possible to borrow some publications from the museum Resource Centre Library.
Maps, Plans and Drawings
these are both copies of historic maps, including parish plans and early surveys, as well as contemporary mapping.
Photographic Archive
A photographic archive of approximately 1000 historical images and 50,000 contemporary images. These are primarily in the form of a negative archive with contact prints of all images and a selection of larger prints. The Archive contains Black and White, and colour negatives and prints and colour slides.
Oral Histories
These include about 400 recorded interviews on cassette tape, as well as printed transcriptions and in some cases summaries. Major themes in the oral history collection include, the role of Women, migration, industry, – Munitions workers, Sunshine Harvester Works, Chaff mills, Life and times of George Seelaf, Lifeblood of Footscray – meat industry.
Firm Library
Many of the Living Museum’s projects, exhibitions and events are documented on film. The Resouce Centre also houses historic film footage about the Newmarket Saleyards, the Maribyrnong River and made numerous documentary films in the 1980s and 90s. The Museum is currently in the process of transferring video tape to DVD. Many of these films are now available to view in the Visitor Centre by appointment.
Exhibition Materials
include text and images prepared for past exhibitions and displays. They include both large mounted panels and individual sections. In some cases they may be available for loan or hire. These exhibitions include…
Pobblebonk
– Animals of the Maribyrnong River Estuary
Australia’s Arsenal
– Munitions Industries in Melbourne’s west
Hear Our Voices
-Stories by women in Melbourne’s west
Still Here
– Aboriginal history of Melbourne’s west
Outdoor Resources
Pipemakers Park, in which the Museum is set, contains other resources for the interpretation and study of the region, including:
The History of the Land Discovery Trail, a series of landscaped gardens with different historical themes linked by mosaic artworks,
The Pioneer Women’s Shelter, a memorial to Irish women who first settled and farmed the Maribyrnong Valley.
The Top Factory, A conserved historic industrial building which formed part of the Hume Pipe Works and is undergoing restoration and interpretation.
The Pipestacks sculpture.
Wetlands and indigenous gardens, which recreate the landscape of the Basalt Plains and Maribyrnong Valley as it was before White Settlement.