Marion Council has approved plans for a $1.4m local history museum

A proposed $1.4m museum exploring the local history of a southern suburbs council has received the tick of approval. See the plans here.

Artist impressions of the City of Marion Museum at The Red House. Picture: Grieve Gillett Andersen Architects

Marion Council could soon be home to a new $1.4 million local history museum and gallery space.

The council approved concept designs for the City of Marion Museum at its January meeting.

The development would form part of an extension to the old “Red House” adjacent to the council’s administration building on Sturt Road.

The house was built in 1922 and later sold to the council in 1989 before becoming the Marion Heritage Research Centre in 2013.

Councillor Raelene Telfer told the council seeing plans for the museum – which would also act as a storage and research space for local history volunteers – bought tears to her eyes.

Artist impressions of the City of Marion Museum at The Red House. Picture: Grieve Gillett Andersen Architects

Artist impressions of the City of Marion Museum at The Red House. Picture: Grieve Gillett Andersen Architects

“I have never in 25 years had tears in my eyes when I looked at a report but when I was shown this … I felt like I had tears in my eyes because I felt like this was such a great thing for our city,” she said.

“It’s so exciting to have this small space … to interpret the whole of our city.”

Plans for a museum were first mooted in 2019.

In July 2020, the council moved to investigate creating a museum by extending the Red House while also recognising other historical sites.

A council report said the museum would also highlight other local history and cultural heritage sites in the region including Glenthorne Farm, Warriparinga Wetlands and Hallett Cove Geological Area and Conservation Park.

“This mixed heritage approach envisaged that the Red House would be a focal point for local

history with a number of satellite sites celebrating themes and storylines that make Marion’s history unique,” the report staid.

The council will apply for funding for 50 per cent of the project through the State Government’s local government infrastructure partnership.

Community consultation on the project is due to begin in March.

Marion Mayor Kris Hanna has been contacted for comment.