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Gippsland Vehicle Collection and Gippsland Auto Museum in Maffra seeking up to $1M funding for major facility redevelopment

Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester is working with volunteers at Gippsland Vehicle Collection and Gippsland Auto Museum in Maffra to seek funding for a major redevelopment of the important community facility.

By news@gippsland - 1st September 2022 - Back to News

Mr Chester said the community volunteers needed to secure up to $1 million to replace a leaking asbestos roof and develop an expanded workshop and trade training area to future-proof one of Wellington Shire's most important visitor attractions. "From humble beginnings, the museum has grown to be one of the most popular built attractions in the region with up to 10,000 visitors per year," Mr Chester said.

Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester with Gippsland Vehicle Collection Committee Vice President Nick Elliot and Secretary Sue Lawrence, said he was working with volunteers to seek funding for a major redevelopment of the facility

Providing an excellent experience

Mr Chester said, "The high-calibre community volunteers have a proven track record of running a successful organisation but the scale of this redevelopment is beyond their fundraising capacity."

"They will need additional funding from governments or philanthropic sources to deliver a project of this scale which is important for protecting the exhibits and providing an excellent visitor experience."

"The community recently worked with Wellington Shire to replace the worst section of the leaking roof but the entire roof needs to be replaced as soon as possible." Mr Chester said.

Display of historic vehicles

Mr Chester said the Gippsland Auto Museum in Maffra opened in 2006 with a vision: 'To provide Gippsland with an outstanding rotating display of interesting historic vehicles':

• Cars
• Motorbikes
• Machinery and vintage
• Veteran and historic memorabilia

Mr Chester said, "It now has over 830 members and the current exhibition of motorcycles is quite extraordinary. The range of rare and collectible motorcycles in the one location is amazing and there's memorabilia from Maffra's own former World Enduro Championship winner Shane Watts. The collection is a credit to the museum volunteers and generosity of the owners who allow their motorcycles to be displayed to the public."

Pictures from Darren Chester MP website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com