Opposition visits Vietnam Vets’ Museum

THE relocation and upgrade of the National Vietnam Veterans’ Museum (NVVM) was the major topic of discussion when Nationals candidate for Bass, Brett Tessari, and Shadow Minister for Veterans, Tim Bull, visited the site recently.

The museum’s new site will be located at 24 Churchill Road, Newhaven and will replace their current location at 25 Veterans Drive, Newhaven.

The museum will be used to permanently display and store the collection of more than 40,000 items of memorabilia and artefacts.

The development consists of the main building with a total area of 4206sqm containing exhibition areas, visitor services spaces and support area spaces.

The exhibition spaces are contained in approximately one half of the building and include three areas; a central theme area, a supporting theme area and an indoor memorial space. 
Approximately half of the building will consist of visitor service spaces, support spaces and plant.

The visitor services spaces include ticketing, retail, reception, café, training, meeting and function rooms and amenities.

Externally the development includes 60 car parking spaces, an additional overflow parking area to accommodate 30 spaces, bus parking area, special purpose spaces, commemoration garden and several event spaces.

“The reality of the situation is this facility has outgrown its current site and building to the stage that all the material that has been donated cannot be displayed,” said Mr Tessari.

“The Board of directors has been very proactive in progressing its relocation and expansion proposal and it was pleasing to look over these plans with the Shadow Minister.

“Land has been purchased adjacent to the existing site and what is being put forward is very exciting for the area. It will be much more than a museum and will have the ability to host a range of supports for veterans.”

The museum was also successful in receiving $147,900 from the state government, which will enable them to increase their storage space to the required museum standards. 

It will also allow for the safe movement of objects between floors thereby increasing the safety and accessibility for staff. 

In 2020, they achieved the Australian Museums and Galleries Association Victoria (AMaGA Vic) accreditation with a small, sealed room as their only controlled environment storage space.

“This funding is just brilliant news for our much-loved NVVM – it means they can expand their storage area, accession and conserve more objects in their collection and continue to do such incredible work in preserving Veteran history,” State Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale said.