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Museum mayhem as historical society homeless

Published

2 months ago

19 February 2025

JeffG

Lismore Museum protest the Richmond River Historical Society

Museum mayhem as historical society homeless

By Samantha Elley

It was a letter from council to the Richmond River Historical Society that alerted president, Dr Robert Smith, to the very real fact that the organisation was effectively homeless.

Since the February 2022 floods, the society, which runs the Lismore Museum, has been working out of a popup shop in Molesworth Street, still running their exhibitions and educating locals and tourist alike of the history of the city and surrounding villages.

“Lismore rate payers have been saved the cost of paying for a museum, but the benefits have flowed back to them,” said Dr Smith in the public access time of the Lismore City Council meeting last week.

“Now it is under threat.”

Dr Smith said council had gone quiet on lease discussions as the society prepared to move back into the municipal building at 165 Molesworth Street, after reparations had been done after the flood.

“We were given a ‘what if’, (with the offer of the) former tourist info centre,” said Dr Smith.

“It is much smaller in square metreage, about two thirds.

“The real problem is it is on the ground floor and is very flood prone.

“We cannot evacuate a major display in the timeframe we get with a flood.

“It will be more like a museum experience, rather than a museum.”

A peaceful protest was held outside council chambers before the mid morning meeting last Tuesday, for supporters of the society to show their displeasure with council’s actions.

The events that had led to this situation came about when Mayor Steve Krieg had issued a Notice of Motion to council staff to prepare a Property Strategy to be able to manage their portfolio of property assets.

Cr Krieg said he hadn’t singled out the society, nor the municipal building.

“It’s about the billion dollars of assets our council cannot maintain and afford,” he said.

“I didn’t write (the Notice of Motion) to target the Richmond River Historical Society.

“This isn’t an eviction of the Richmond River Historical Society.

“What I want to see done is management of our pocket parks, for example, looking after the 47 community groups that we provide peppercorn rents for.

“It’s about streamlining our operations.”

Cr Krieg was adamant that the property audit it was about seeing Lismore grow and thrive and to be able to manage all assets properly.

Cr Knight-Smith proposed an amendment to exclude the municipal building from the audit and offer a lease to the historical society at 165 Molesworth Street as a matter of priority.

“The Richmond River Historical Society is an institution that plays a vital role that preserves the history of Lismore and the villages,” she said.

“I urge you to continue to support the Richmond River Historical Society and ensure this vital resource remains a beacon.

“This motion sets to exclude the RRHS from their home for 30 years and I ask it be removed from the motion.”

A foreshadowed amendment was raised where it was agreed that a property strategy needed to be developed, which included options for a council office in the Lismore CBD, with the addition of priority be given to find a suitable location for the Richmond River Historical Society.

As well as being flood free, Dr Smith said there were a number of requirements the new location would have to have.

“Adequate security, access space, research centre with its archives to be close to objects of museum,’” he said.

“540 sqm is what we plan for.

“If a new building goes up outside the flood, we’d consider it.

“One aspect of the (municipal building) is it is a heritage building, it tells part of the history already and is uniquely suited.”

The foreshadowed amendment was passed nine votes to two.

Lismore Museum protest courtesy Facebook

Robert Smith, Richmond River Historical Society, Lismore Museum.

We have no problem with council conducting an audit and presence in CBD.

In implementation, we have sharp experiences.

Pre empted by staff without notification to community.

Immediate consequences to museum drastic.

Ask that museum be exempted from the audit.

Library, museum and gallery. Council hasn’t had to fund it’s own museum as HS has been running it for 70 years.

Lismore rate payers have been saved the cost of paying for a museum but benefits flow.

Now it is under threat.

Agree Lease offer withdrawn.

LCC went quiet on lease discussions and we thought they had a lot on their plate.

Apparently property audit was already underway.

While waiting for re-occupation we were referred to contractors and waited for December 2024.

We wonder why museum has been singled out.

How can we have trust in council. From the pattern of communication it seems that council now no longer wants a museum. The best offer we had was to downsize, flood prone and no longer a museum.

Cr Knight-Smith.

What is suitability of what has been offered?

We were given a what if, former tourist info centre. Much smaller in square metreage. About 2/3s. Real problem is ground floor is very flood prone. Cannot evacuate a major display in the timeframe we get with a flood. More like a Museum experience rather than a museum.

In a world constantly moving forward, we overlook preserving our roots. What buildings are there in Lismore that are appropriate for a museum and RRHS?

We don’t see anything with the floor space that is flood free. In the third meeting yesterday, we said it has to be that and in the CBD it’s the first floor of museum building. If a new building goes up outside the flood, we’d consider it. One aspect of the museum is it is a heritage building, it tells part of the history already. Uniquely suited.

Could you run us through the important tenets of a museum?

Adequate security, access space, research centre with its archives to be close to objects of museum. Synergy. 540 sqm is what we plan for.”

Cr Krieg

Would you like to see LCC not progress a property strategy?

We would like an amendment to preclude a museum, like the library and the gallery.

I am speaking against the motion, solely as a way of the exclusion of the museum.

Cr Dalton-Earles

What type of docs lost in floods?

Very little with in the museum. We would not move into such a premises that was flood prone. Everything we had was above last flood level and in planning to go ahead, we are looking at an extra margin of safety on first floor.

If this has been a staff decision, how do we maintain this relationship?

We were led to believe we were going in there and we were looking ahead. It wasn’t communication, it was a letter that went to an old email address I no longer use. No good will. The whole process has gone legalistic and not the process I thought we had.

What is the size difference of top floor of library and RRHS has been in?

The library is council-owned. No specific option was offered until the third meeting

Cr Guise

What is the process of entering into a lease agreement with you?

We have never had a lease as we always operated under MOU. Based on good will. We went along with the lease agreement. May meeting of council said we would receive upper floor. In June, staff went quiet and we rested on good will.

Cr Jensen

Is there any way documentation can be stored offsite?

Documentation and archives need to be together with that area. Object storage can go offsite. Pure technical area we could get that down to low 200sqm.

Cr Robb

Can you give us the benefit of the doubt?

We are already in a holding pattern. We are stored in containers. We are still making plans. Locals know there is no such building readily available. Another option was to relocate and move around until something becomes available. Many objects and the collection are fragile.

Mr Justin Drews

VIC could be a solution for a year while another property was found.

Discussion

Cr Knight-Smith proposed an amendment to exclude the municipal building. Cr Guise seconded with a question. Take on an additional point of May 2024 to execute a lease with RRHS forthwith? Taken.

Cr Krieg said he wanted a property strategy over all council assets.

Cr Knight-Smith.

RRHS is an institution that plays a vital role that preserves history of Lismore and the villages. We support valuable local resource. Living testament to our past, bridges Ab history and European settlement. Diligently worked to preserve narratives that define us all. History is safeguarded for future generations.

The society provides a wealth of knowledge and pride. Enrich our understanding and shape our selves moving forward.

They serve as educators and record-keepers. Making sure Lismore history is never lost or forgotten. In doing so fosters a sense of pride of who we are and where we come from.

It’s easy to overlook preserving roots, but it is through the stewardship like RRHS we can reflect on our history with pride.

I urge you to ocntineu to support tRRHS and ensure this vital resource remains a beacon. This motion sets to exclude the RRHS from their home for 30 years. I ask it be removed from the motion.

Cr Dalton-Earles

Support for RRHS with their ideal location being municipal building. What the sqm of top floor of library is? Taken on notice.

Cr Waters

Amendment to amendment as I want to see mun building still in property strategy but want RRHS to be in that building. Cr KS said yes.

Cr Krieg

This isn’t about the municipal building it’s about $43 billion of assets our council can not maintain and afford. I didn’t write this to target the RRHS. This isn’t an eviction of the RRHS. This policy proposal was never about RRHS location. What I want to see done is management of our pocket park for example. Looking afte r the 47 community groups that we provide peppercorn rents. It’s about streamlining our ops.

What about GSAC and Gbah industrial estate? All of those things involved in property strategy. I want to see lIsmore grow and thrive and manage our assets properly. I will support foreshadowed amendement.

Amendment

The GM be requested to develop a property strategy.
Strategy include council office presence in CBD
PS implementation model be brought back to council
GM execute lease to RRHS at 165 Molesworth.

Foreshadowed amendment

Develop property strategy
Include options for council office in CBD
Property strategy and implementation model be brought back to council
Priority given to find a suitable location for RRHS.

Cr Guise

Disgusted with the way RRHS has been treated. We are killing of HS with this resolution.

Let’s play monopoly with our core people who give life to our city. You can’t treat community groups like that and burning relations that have been built up for years.

Cr Robb

Foreshadowed amendment was passed and adopted.

For more local news, click here.

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