Franca Facci (pictured in Port Kembla) says the Museum of People, Country and Industry will create a rich program where stories are told, ideas are nurtured and connections are forged. Photo: Jeremy Lasek.
If Illawarra woman Franca Facci gets her way, the region will have the foundations of a new museum by 2028 — one where its stories come alive.
The Museum of People, Country and Industry would reimagine how local stories are told, taking a participatory approach in curating a program that “empowers the people of the Illawarra to not only be the authors, but also the tellers of their own stories”.
It’s about celebrating who we are, how we got here, and where we’re going next, ultimately to revitalise the Illawarra’s social landscape.
“We live in a world so disconnected from intimacy with our fellow human beings. But this museum would be a powerful antidote,” she says.
“It would allow us to share first-person accounts of the people who form our neighbourhoods and societies.
“We recognise that the essence of our community lies in the rich tapestry of human experiences, stories and shared histories.”
The idea first took shape when Franca, a founding member of Migration Heritage Projects, joined forces with the late Louise Douglas of the Illawarra Historical Society, Lost Wollongong founder David Bottin, Inside Industry’s Stuart Barnes and Mining Heritage’s Chris Denison — prompted by news that BlueScope was looking to celebrate a century of steelmaking in 2028.
They describe themselves as “a dynamic grassroots movement of passionate locals aligned with people and organisations that have the Illawarra’s future at their heart”.
“We thought we’d come together and pitch an idea to BlueScope and the community about a large regional museum that celebrated, commemorated and acknowledged the heritage of all of us,” Franca says.
The team hopes to win and leverage backing from local, state and federal government, as well as the powerhouse of BlueScope, to generate funding from a combination of resource pools, including grants and philanthropy.
For the location, they have their eyes on a small corner of BlueScope’s master planned 200 ha development of excess landholdings adjacent to the Port Kembla Steelworks.
“Think of the incredible transformation of industrial spaces like White Bay Power Station and Cockatoo Island. These are the kinds of spaces we have in Port Kembla,” Franca says.
“It would be the perfect place to weave together the Illawarra’s rich cultural and industrial past with its vibrant present and aspirational future.
“BlueScope have already indicated that if we’re able to secure funding, they’d lease the land to us at minimal cost, and that they’d like to form a memorandum of understanding with us. That’s already a significant sign of support, but it’s not a given. We need to think creatively and strategically about how we can fund such a museum.
“For now, we’re wanting to create a wave of enthusiasm for it, and prove an appetite in the community for it.”
Franca, whose family migrated from Italy in the 1960s and whose dad worked as a Wollongong coal miner, has always had a deep fascination with the diverse stories of the Illawarra.
“Between my heritage and my work in public health, the people I have met in my life have come from all different backgrounds. All of them had stories, and they were poignant. They described people’s strength, character and for the migrant community, a deep sense of optimism that came with the chance to live in Australia,” she says.
The museum would explore the region’s stories based on five pillars: First Nations stories, Migrant Heritage, Social History, Industrial Heritage and Nature.
The vision is for a contemporary, multipurpose destination museum.
“When you think of the most amazing gallery or museum you’ve been in, what was it like? Invariably, it’s about creating a sense of awe and inspiration,” Franca says.
“We really want it to be contemporary and at scale.
“Museums are no longer buildings you walk through passively; they engage people in their programs. So think an exhibition on steelmaking, complemented by workshops that show people how to forge steel. Or one on clothing and footwear, with activities centred around mending your own clothes, knitting or crocheting.
“We have no shortage of source material.”
To access the project prospectus, make a tax-deductible donation or become one of the early backers of the museum for as little as a $25 membership, visit the Migration Heritage Project.
