An online trove of Victoria’s cultural and historical collections has been launched to connect the public with thousands of rare and precious items which collectively tell the State’s story.
The Victorian Collections website was developed by Museums Victoria and Australian Museums and Galleries Association Victoria (AMaGA Victoria), with funding provided through Creative Victoria.
Minister for Creative Industries, Danny Pearson said the refreshed and expanded Victorian Collections platform was free for all and contained 200,000 searchable collection items, along with a growing array of in-depth feature stories and education kits.
“Approximately eight million collection items are held by museums, galleries, historical societies, RSLs, sports clubs, churches, hospitals and schools across Victoria, with an estimated value of several hundreds of millions of dollars,” Mr Pearson said
“Some of these items are on public display but many more are in storage,” he said.
“Victorian Collections aims to increase access to these diverse, enlightening and rare objects, artworks and historical records.”
Mr Pearson said highlights of the collection included the handwritten World War One diary of Priscilla Wardle; items of iconic Australian design; and Koori art and artefacts.
“The digitisation of culturally significant items is a critical part in protecting the State’s collections from the threat of ageing and environmental factors such as bushfires,” the Minister said.
“This work is ongoing and the website is designed to digitally preserve more and more items and improve access for researchers, students and the public,” he said.
Mr Pearson said the site was also being used by more than 700 collecting organisations across Victoria as an online collection management system to help catalogue and digitise their collections for future generations.
The Victorian Collections website can be accessed at this PS News link.
