Museum goes back to school with lunch money

Museum curator Lauretta Davies is grateful for funding to transform the old Bunbury Boys School classroom to replicate its pre-war appearance.

As the biggest beneficiary of this year's annual Chefs' Long Table Lunch, the Bunbury Museum and Heritage Centre received $38,000 to spend directly on restoring the old school room to its original beauty.

The classroom still looks largely as it did when built in 1886, featuring high ceilings, the old fireplace in the corner and map rails around the walls where maps of the Empire would have hung.

Mrs Davies is now looking to the public for support and donations.

Old furniture, in particular, is being sought to fit out the newly-renovated classroom.

"We are looking for single, double or triple wooden school benches with ink wells - the sort of thing that would have had initials carved in them from generations of children," Mrs Davies said.

"The single desks may be used as discovery desks throughout the entire museum."

Once fitted out "to a high standard", the classroom will be used for school visits and community-based activities.

Visiting speakers and curators will also bring a wealth of knowledge to the community.

Museum fundraising committee chairman Stephen Craddock said the Greater Bunbury community had voiced the need for a local museum in the area for more than 80 years.

"We decided to apply to be a beneficiary because the Chefs' Long Table Lunch fundraising event has supported some worthwhile community measures in the past," Mr Craddock said.

"People who attended the lunch should take pleasure in the fact that the result for the museum will be much better. It was a very generous donation and we are extremely grateful for their support."