Collections
Our Collections
The Katherine Museum has a wide range of collections that have been donated into the care of the Museum from 1972 to present day. A full assessment of collections was undertaken in 2007/2008. From this assessment the Overland Telegraph Display was created bringing all telecommunication objects and documents to be displayed together as a complete collection.
Regular care of our collections is vital for our collections keeping and with the initiation of a new Museum there will be present, a resource room, archive facility and temperature controlled collection keeping area.
Katherine as a township is historically young and we are always welcoming new collections to be donated into our care. We have some very historical objects and documentation that delivers diversity to our cultural heritage, growing wealth of knowledge for our future generations and community.
Historical Object of Significance
The Overland Telegraph Desk that dates back to 1872
The Planetarium made by a Russian Peanut Farmer
The Clyde Fenton Gypsy Moth
The First Beef Roads Grader
The Punt Boat that Jeannie Gun used to cross the Ferguson River
The Mirrlees Generator from the original power house
Early Indigenous Artefacts
World War II objects
Historical Document Collections
The O’Shea Collection – Written and donated by Peter and Maureen Dunham
The McLaren’s Report – History of the early Police in the Katherine and Territory
Historical Photograph Collections
The Brentwood Collection
The Railway Album – Building the bridge 1926
Hand sketched record of service Katherine WWII
The Newmarch collection
The Wadey Collection – Early Katherine
The Shadforth Collection – Early Katherine
The Campbell Collection – War years Katherine 1942
The Peter Sing Collection – Town Icon donated by Dorothy Sing
Donating Objects to our Museum
We will collect objects, photographs and documents that relate to the Katherine region and its residents. With particular interest on items that reflect the development of our community and diversity of our cultural heritage.
Donation procedure
Interview donor, discuss Collection Policy
- Items offered for Donation require Donor sheet, detailing Donor contacts, Donor object and provenance
- Donor must sign Offer of Donation, Transfer of Title, Permission for use of Photographs
- Photographs may be left for Copy loan and returned. Signature required upon return to donor
- Items that do not fit Collection Policy guideline should be declined.
Conservation
No treatments are to be considered that are not reversible. We do not restore items, as the objects condition reflects history of use.
