Bringing history back to life
Live shearing exhibition at the Woodsdale Levendale Museum, Woodsdale Road, Levensdale, Tasmania
By Sue Atkinson
Just under an hour from Hobart you'll find the small farming towns of Levendale and Woodsdale.
With no public transport, a primary school of just 15 students, two churches and two town halls, the Levendale and Woodsdale History Rooms group established the Woodsdale Museum in 2006 to record the rich history of the area.
However, in 2008, with a dwindling membership of over-60s, the history group was in desperate need of new members and some fresh ideas.
The history group was successful in securing a grant of close to $45,000 from the Tasmanian Community Fund to establish a Sheep Shearing Interpretation Shed and a Men's/Farm Shed at the existing Woodsdale Museum property.
For a region characterised by younger farmers passionate about their properties, and even more passionate about their sheep, this was great news and an idea was quickly born to approach these farmers about coming on board to promote the wool industry through the museum. Four new members in their 30s quickly signed up .
The sheds were built in late 2008 and became a hive of activity over the Christmas holidays as history group members and volunteers from the area came together to fit out the sheds in time for the February 8 opening.
The new members also came up with the idea of a Calendar Girls inspired fundraiser called Bare Bellies, Butts and All, a calendar featuring nude shearers from across the regions. The money raised not only went towards the museum, but also towards the Royal Hobart Hospital Burns Unit.
This fundraiser not only brought in new younger members but also retired men of the area enthusiastic about becoming part of the new developments. With a 2004 membership of only 12, the history group now boasts an impressive membership of 38, the youngest member a 22-year-old wool classing TAFE student.
Fashion parade exhibition at the Woodsdale Levendale Museum, Woodsdale Road, Levensdale, Tasmania
The February opening of the sheds was a great success, celebrated with a range of activities throughout the day including shearing demonstrations, dog trials, billy tea and damper making, cross cut saw challenges, a woollen clothing fashion parade, post and rail fencing and wool handing demonstrations.
The day was opened by the Southern Midland Mayor and was attended by an impressive collection of federal and local politicians as well as arts and culture industry representatives.
As well as increasing history group membership, the developments have changed the whole dynamic of the museum with three well integrated interpretive and educational exhibitions. The only one of their kind in Tasmania, the interpretation and farm sheds have not only secured the future of the volunteer run museum but have also highlighted the impressive skills and abilities of a small Tasmanian community.
http://www.schools.education.tas.gov.au/levendale/
The Woodsdale Levendale Museum is at 1315 Woodsdale Road, Levendale, Tasmania 7120.
Ph: 03 62 546 133 or 03 62 546 171
