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- On
6 July 1999 it was announced that the National Pioneer
Women's Hall of Fame in Alice Springs was one of the
six successful projects to receive funding in the Northern
Territory under the Federal Government's $30 million
Centenary of Federation Community Projects Program.
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- The
organisation has been awarded $77,000 towards establishing
their new permanent building. However around $3-5 million
will be required eventually to establish a purpose-built
museum and research centre for collecting and interpreting
Australian women's history.
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- With
growing support for the organisation and an expanding collection,
the National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame urgently needs a new
building to do justice to such a huge concept.
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- Women's
role in society has changed dramatically over the last 100 years.
As we enter a new millennium and celebrate the Centenary of Federation
with over half the population (51%) being women, surely it is
time to tell the other half of the story?
An Advisory Board was set up in 1999 to discuss possible sites
and throughout 2000 negotiations have been in place with the Northern
Territory government regarding these, in particular the heritage-listed
Old Alice Springs Gaol site. The latter affords an excellent location
in the centre of town, close to both tourist accommodation and
other venues. Part of the Centenary of Federation funding was
put towards a feasibility study (completed Dec 2001) by Sinclair
Knight Merz Pty Ltd, Malvern, VIC to establish the most appropriate
site for the NPWHF's future. The Old Gaol site continues to be
the best option and a further submission was delivered to the
NT government in Nov 2002.
In 2003 the NPWHF committee contracted consultant Christine Godden
to write a Business Plan and new submission to NT government regarding
the Old Alice Springs Gaol site, which was formally presented
in August. This new strategy involves raising enough funds to
restore and relocate to the old Gaol complex by 2005, a project
estimated to cost around $1 million and putting the long-term
plan of a new purpose built museum temporarily on hold.
The buildings inside the old Gaol complex can be utilized by the
National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame for displays, storage,
office, shop and cafe while the cells can be interpreted as part
of a separate gaol museum and others can be leased out to other
arts organizations.
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The
art deco front entrance of Old Alice Springs Gaol
(built 1938), the proposed new home of the National
Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame.
Photo: Barry Skipsey |
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There
is plenty of room for the National Pioneer Women’s
Hall of Fame to expand within the Old Gaol complex.
Photo: Barry Skipsey |
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A women’s museum in a gaol? It’s not such a bizarre
or new concept. The popular Danish Women’s Museum in Aarhus
is housed in the former town hall, police station, gaol and WWII
Gestapo Headquarters. Other women’s museums have also taken
over former male-domains. The best example is the National Museum
of Women in the Arts in Washington DC which is located in a former
Masonic Temple! Click
here for further information on other women’s
museums around the world.
News
about the future location of the building will be updated regularly
on this website.-
- If
you care about preserving women's heritage in Australia, you can
contribute to the "Buy a Brick" building fund for the future purpose-built
National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame.
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- One
"Brick" costs $25 and donations of $25 or more will be acknowledged
with an official certificate, as well as being registered in some
way in any future building. To make your online donation please
click
here
or print the page and complete the form below and post with your
cheque or money order to:
- NPWHF
- PO
Box 9193
- Alice
Springs
- NT
0871
- Australia
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- You
can also support the National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame by
becoming a member.
Members receive a badge of membership, and are fully informed
of the association's activities through its quarterly newsletter
PIONEER WOMEN.
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Should
you experience any difficulties with this site
please contact the webmaster.
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