Terry Bugg shares the history of the Illawarra’s involvement in the war in front of one of several honour rolls the museum has. To the left is the uniform of a soldier who served in WWI – beneath a photograph of the young man who wore it. Photo: Zoe Cartwright.
The Breakwater Battery Museum has been given a stay of execution, but it’s cold comfort for dedicated volunteers.
NSW Ports initially told the volunteer organisation they must have their extensive collection of Illawarra war-time artefacts and memorabilia out of the historic Breakwater Battery Building by 31 October, as their lease will not be renewed.
That deadline has been extended to 31 January, but museum secretary Terry Bugg said without somewhere to go the collection will still be lost.
“The extension is only forestalling the inevitable because we can’t afford to pay for the storage,” he said.
“It would be tens of thousands of dollars just to store our collection of guns from WWI and WWII.
“People from all over NSW have asked what we’re going to do with the collection, so it will be sent all over the place and then it’s lost to Wollongong.
“Politicians all stood up solemn-faced at Remembrance Day ceremonies this week. Now they have the opportunity to do something to remember our soldiers, so why won’t they?”
A representative from the Minister of Heritage Penny Sharpe’s office condemned the move to privatise NSW Ports that has led to the end of the museum’s lease.
“This is another example of why the privatisation of public assets undertaken by the previous government hurts communities,” the office spokesperson said.
“Heritage NSW is in contact with museum volunteers to provide guidance on the ongoing care of the Breakwater & Battery Military Museum collection.”
Local representatives, however, have been less outspoken.
Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said the museum held important pieces of the Illawarra’s past, but wouldn’t commit to advocating on its behalf.
“The Breakwater Battery Museum holds an important collection of military history and if there’s no option for them to maintain their existing facility, then at least I hope the collection is able to be maintained,” he said.
Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes was similarly reluctant to commit herself, and said she hoped the museum’s collection would be removed with care.
“The Breakwater Battery Museum has sadly been closed to the public for some time due to concerns of building safety,” she said.
“I understand the site requires significant works to ensure it is safe and accessible, and to meet modern standards for public use. These works will take some time and will require the removal of historical artefacts to ensure their preservation.”
NSW Ports has not identified what works will be undertaken on the building, which is one of a small number of well-preserved examples of WWII architecture in NSW.
NSW Ports has not committed to a future use for the site.
The site is heritage listed with the NSW Government, however the listing only covers the land as part of an Aboriginal Heritage designation.
It is also identified as heritage in the Wollongong City Council’s Local Environment Plan, however the details of what that designation covers are unclear.
The museum has operated out of the site since 1986.
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