Nambour & District Historical Museum

Donations

Collections Policy

 

In keeping with the aim of the Museum, the Collections Policy dictates that the following guidelines will be followed in the collection of objects and construction of the displays:-

  1. The natural and human history of the Maroochy Shire and particularly the area of Nambour 4560
  2. Material pertaining to any person, family or group born, lived or established in the afore-mentioned areas
  3. Material which may be suitable for educational purposes such as comparison of lifestyles of different eras.

Criteria for Acceptance

 

Significance

 

Objects may be of social, artistic, scientific or aesthetic significance.

 

Storage and Display

 

The object should be able to be stored and/or displayed under adequate conditions that ensure its preservation, security and survival.

 

Appropriateness

 

The object should be appropriate to the aim in that

  1. wherever possible, objects must be original and collected within the Nambour area
  2. objects for the collections must be appropriate to the Museum’s display, research or interpretative activities

Documentation and History

 

The object should be supported by as much information as possible relating to its source, manufacture and use, so that its historical significance can be better evaluated. Such documentation should, where possible, include

  1. particulars of the object’s collection (how, where, when and by whom)
  2. the name of the original owner and/or manufacturer and the object’s original use
  3. the chronological history of the object including other pertinent facts

This information should, where possible, be complete and capable of verification.

However, the Museum may collect objects that have incomplete documentation provided that their contribution to projects or displays is considered significant in terms of the criteria set down in the collections policy.

 

Acquisition

 

If an object satisfies all or most of the criteria for acceptance, it may be accepted for the collections. Acquisition of objects may be made by donation, purchase, bequest, transfer or exchange in accordance with an accepted accessioning process. This process includes the transfer of legal ownership to the Museum. Only in exceptional circumstances where there may be sufficient inherent interest in an object or collection would this policy of transfer of ownership be relaxed to accommodate items on a loan basis.

 

Submitting Items to the Museum

 

The above-mentioned policies outline the considerations when items are presented to the Museum. Treasured objects of a personal or heritage nature are often uncovered during “spring cleaning” around the home, farm or business. Often, however, museums become the dumping ground for unwanted items which clearly fall outside the collection guidelines.

Anyone wishing to submit items for inclusion in the Museum’s collection is asked to complete a “Gift Acknowledgement Form”. This document together with an accompanying “Documentation Advice” forms the basis for evaluation and acceptance as well as the transfer of legal ownership. When submitting items, it is most important that the information outlined in Documentation and History is provided.