Museum celebrates one year anniversary

Geelong’s newest and only children’s museum may have spent more than half of its first year closed, but it has reopened stronger than ever before.

Geelong’s newest and only children’s museum may have spent more than half of its first year closed, but it has reopened stronger than ever before.

When Tom Mahon and Billie Georgieff opened the doors to the Museum of Play and Art (MoPA) in January last year they never expected it would only be open for 191 days.

But after just 10 weeks of operation the museum was closed during the first stage of coronavirus restrictions and shuttered again during the second wave.

MOPA is celebrating its first birthday. Owners Tom and Billie Mahon with their children Rafferty 3yrs and Eddie 6yrs. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

“The first year of operation has been anything but smooth sailing,” Ms Georgieff said.

“We’ve seen the highest highs and the lowest lows.” Mr Mahon said the shut down period was incredibly difficult for the team and the viability of the museum.

“But, much like every small business in the region, we didn’t really give ourselves the option except to keep pushing through the obstacles, and to keep finding creative ways to keep going,” he said.

“We did what we could to innovate through the difficult times, building the world’s

largest essentials vending machine and holding a Halloween extravaganza.

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“Without the community’s incredible support of these innovations, it would have been

even more difficult.”

Mr Mahon said museum hosts up to 10,000 guests a month, with more than 50,000 visitors walking through the doors of the heritage building in 2019.

“The COVID restrictions allow for us to host 150 guests at once, but we’ve always

had it capped at 100 at a time.” he said.

Bookings are available online at museumofplayandart.com.au and are recommended 2-3 days ahead of your visit.

Originally published as Museum celebrates one year anniversary