The Government will provide over $100,000 to preserve a rare guitar used by Australian surf rock band The Atlantics, and a 19th century silver centrepiece gifted to one of Victoria’s founding fathers.

Sydney's Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) will receive $35,000 to acquire a rare Fender Stratocaster guitar used by The Atlantics to write, record and perform the 1963 instrumental hit Bombora.         

Bombora was the number one song in September 1963 and is part of the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia collection. MAAS will match the Commonwealth's funding to acquire the rare electric guitar which is still in playing condition.

Fender Stratocaster guitar used by The Atlantics to write, record and perform the 1963 instrumental hit Bombora

The Museums Board of Victoria (Museums Victoria) will receive $67,500 to acquire a silver candelabra epergne, an ornamental centrepiece with branched candlestick holders, presented to one of Melbourne's founding fathers, Captain William Lonsdale.

The 47.5 centimetre tall sterling silver centrepiece was presented to Captain Lonsdale in 1840 as a retirement gift from his position as Chief Magistrate and Commandant of Port Phillip. The epergne will be on display to the public at the Melbourne Museum and through Museum Victoria's online collection. Museums Victoria will contribute $7,500 for the acquisition.

Silver candelabra epergne

Up to $500,000 is available each financial year through the Government's National Cultural Heritage Account to help Australian museums, galleries, trusts and archives preserve significant objects.

Last year, the Account funded the acquisition of a rare Tasmanian tiger pelt, the Silver Streak hydroplane, a collection of 23 paintings by artist Jarinyanu David Downs, the Amelia Campbell epergne and a 19th century Aboriginal shield.

Images: Fender Stratocaster guitar courtesy of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS). Silver candelabra epergne courtesy of Museums Victoria

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