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‘Gympie’s history’: Qld Mining Museum launches petition against council

The Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum has not accepted a council decision to demolish a 50m walkway on the site, letting visitors in for free and launching a petition calling on the council to change its mind.

‘It’s Gympie’s history’: Museum pushes on with fight to save iconic gantry

The Gympie council’s decision to demolish a 40-year-old iconic replica mining gantry at the city’s historical museum has been decried as “devastating” as backlash grows against the controversial decision.

On Monday, the city’s Gold Mining and Historical Museum continued its pushback against the planned destruction of the walkway, throwing open its doors for free to patrons and launching a petition calling on the council to change its plans.

It was revealed last Thursday, January 23, the council planned to demolish the 50m gantry which stretches from near the museum’s cafe to a replica mining poppet head nearby.

CEO Robert Jennings said in a statement the walkway had been deemed unsafe by independent assessors.

It had “deteriorated significantly and is in danger of collapse” and the assessors’ recommendation was the “immediate demolition and removal of the whole structure”, Mr Jennings said.

Gayle and Gavin O'Mara say the Gympie council's plan to demolish the gantry at the Mining Museum should be reversed as it's "Gympie’s history they’re getting rid of".
Gayle and Gavin O'Mara say the Gympie council's plan to demolish the gantry at the Mining Museum should be reversed as it's "Gympie’s history they’re getting rid of".

The same day the council erected safety fencing around the gantry, cutting vehicle access between Brisbane Rd and the Old Bruce Hwy in the process.

In response the museum on Monday opened its doors as part of an impromptu festival to spur on the fight against this plan.

Within two hours of the gates opening the petition had drawn more than 100 signatures.

A letter from museum secretary Ralph Richardson to the council dated August 6, 2024, made available to the public alongside the petition, said the council had been notified of a structural failure of one of the gantry’s legs four years earlier.

Mr Richardson said in the letter the leg was removed and he started to build a “temporary prop” for the structure but was told by the council “we were not permitted to undertake work ‘in the park’.”

He said after discussion with the council the organisation “would accept responsibility for the structure” and the museum “(had) been prevented from maintaining this structure due to conditions of lease”.

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On Monday the Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum continued its push back against the planned destruction of the walkway, throwing open its doors for free to patrons and launching a petition calling on the council to change its plans.
On Monday the Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum continued its push back against the planned destruction of the walkway, throwing open its doors for free to patrons and launching a petition calling on the council to change its plans.

Mr Jennings said Friday the gantry’s maintenance was an obligation of the museum as the facility was leased to the group.

Many guests at the museum were bewildered and frustrated over how the matter had played out.

Leesa Armstrong said the way things had been handled was “disappointing”.

It was more frustrating given the ongoing closure of the Gympie Civic Centre, now in its fourth year, she said.

Mark Hannon said the council had handled the matter “very badly”.

Mr Hannon said if it had to be taken down, the council should at least have immediately taken the section over the road out so as to keep access between the museum and the Lake Alford park open.

Maree Hannon said the plan should be to bring the gantry back to life.

“It shouldn’t be demolished,” she said.

“It’s Gympie’s history they’re getting rid of.”

Gympie Regional Council CEO Robert Jennings said in a statement the walkway had been deemed unsafe by independent assessors.
Gympie Regional Council CEO Robert Jennings said in a statement the walkway had been deemed unsafe by independent assessors.

Gayle and Gavin O’Mara shared that view.

“I just can’t believe what I’ve heard what’s happened,” Mrs O’Mara said.

“We’ve lost so much history in Queensland already, I hate to think we’re going to lose more,” she said.

“Very disappointed in how it’s been handled.”

Mr O’Mara said if the walkway had simply been maintained “it would still be there … and still be used”.

Kylie Porter said the planned demolition was “devastating”.

“It’s been here for so long,” Mrs Porter said.

Montanna Penfold said “they should fight to keep it open … it holds too much history”.

“We don’t really have too much else other than the gold for Gympie, so it kind of takes away Gympie itself,” Ms Penfold said.

“I don’t think it was very appropriate the way they went about it.”

Julie Sandy said “if there’s danger immediately to the public then they need to respond fast”.

But the question of whether restoration should be done came down to “if it’s affordable”.

“They’d have to look at the costs,” she said.

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/gympie/gympies-history-qld-mining-museum-launches-petition-against-council/news-story/25e5f3262625ed73c358d38f16b1cff5