When generous donors entrust us with historic artefacts, they are placing their confidence in our ability to preserve these precious pieces of our shared heritage. That trust carries a responsibility to provide the highest standard of care, ensuring that these items are protected today so they can be enjoyed, studied, and appreciated by future generations.
The Otway Districts Historical Society is based in the township of Beech Forest. Nestled within the biodiverse temperate rainforest of the Otways, our location is renowned for its natural beauty and abundant rainfall. While this unique environment is one of our greatest assets, it also presents significant challenges for the preservation of historical collections.
Effective preservation extends far beyond careful handling, display, and storage. In our climate, controlling humidity is essential to protecting artefacts from mould and mildew, which can cause irreversible damage to collections while also posing health risks to volunteers and visitors. Best-practice museum standards recommend maintaining a stable temperature of around 20°C and relative humidity between 45 and 55 percent.
While we had successfully managed the temperature within our museum spaces, humidity remained a persistent challenge. Thanks to the support of the Colac Otway Shire through the community grants program, we were able to purchase two dehumidifiers to address this issue.
The units have been installed in the Settler Life and the Reading and Archive rooms, where they are already making a significant difference in maintaining a stable environment.
We are grateful to the Colac Otway Shire for its support. This investment not only helps safeguard the Otway Districts Historical Society's collection but also ensures that the stories, objects, and history of our region will be preserved and shared with the community for many years to come.
Reference:
National Library of Australia, 2023, Preservation, https://www.nla.gov.au/collections/preserving-our-collections/preservation accessed 3/11/2023
Texas Historical Commission, A Quick Guide to the Preservation of Artifacts, https://www.thc.texas.gov/landing/preserve, accessed 3/11/2023