It would be good to find out what is happening about the rebuild but there is nothing at all on-line. The website tells you absolutely nothing.
If the insurance money is $12m then why would you get an architect to design you something that costs at least $20m??
I find that to be a very big concern.
All the public information I can get is about the original fire, and the grand proposed building. A Houston Space Museum style building (in Winton?). Visions of grand opening ceremonies perhaps and overly optimistic completion dates. Ah...
Not a word about re-stocking....
OK. Criticism is not that constructive so... Here is how I would do it.
Firstly find out how many visitors per day the old Centre had. Add 20%, and that determines what you build for. Get an idea of what people would like and expect to see. A bit of market research.
1. Design a practical building that is in keeping with Winton (pop 1600).. that oozes outback and old fashioned charm, not modernity.. and is not incongruous. It should blend with Winton.. and the current design does not IMO. It should be user friendly... not a monument to architectural free-thinking. It may sacrifice some appearance for being fireproof, theft proof (secure), vermin proof and user-friendly. Plus being inexpensive to run and maintain.
2. Develop a sensible project budget. Rather than spend all money on the building, take some and allow for outright purchase of materials and then the ratepayers own them, not borrow them. The items are taken on to the Council's asset register on behalf of ratepayers.
3. Lower the sights, and sensibly budget for a construction costing say $8m BUT one that can be done in stages. A modest stage one at $4m allows you to be up and running rapidly with whatever stock you have, while the additions/expansion can be completed progressively. In thirty years, let some future council do an upgrade to the front and make it grandios. For now, just get on with the business of being back in business. That at least gets the tourist thing going again for the locals, helping to put money back into the local economy. Otherwise I feel it could be years before anything happens if plans are too grand.
4. Make the area especially friendly towards tourists. Silly as it seems, that may mean prioritising good amenities such as toilets, comfort seating and good fresh drinking water on tap .. plus airconditioning. Yep, free coffee. Not having your hand in the visitors' pocket for everything. Easy access and short distances to walk. Good parking. Temperature and humidity control 24/7. Vegetation.
5. Decide what you want to display. This should accord with what visitors expect to see when the name Waltzing Matilda Centre is traded on. For example they are not there to have local art pushed at them, for sale. Especially if they have to pay an entry fee to see it.
I would display :
1. Everything relating to Paterson. If there is a nexus, then display the item but emphasise the connection to Paterson. I see there is a very comprehensive family tree of Banjo Paterson on-line in the ancestry field. Having just recently bought a book signed by Paterson and owned by his first cousin I had reason to visit it and it is fascinating. Why not print it out for tourists and display it prominently. His first cousin Nathaniel was a fascinating guy.
2. Bush Poetry.. especially featuring old classic material. Books. Old classic poets and there are a great selection. Yes a small section for promotion of the Bronze Swagman celebration. Lighting plays a very important part in both featuring and conserving much display material. Specialist stuff, not flouros from Bunnings.
3. Photography. Classic photography (historical) is rapidly gaining interest and value so any genuine old photographs relating to Paterson, or parts of Sydney where he worked.. is all displayable. Winton too.
4. A small shop area for tourist info and selling material such as the great books and booklets produced by ABPA members. What a wonderful display and outlet for publishing ABPA members, including their CD's. Plus Bronze Swagman books.
5. Banjo Paterson medallions, T-shirts, poetry books.. yes even if they are made or printed in China. It is all promotion. "I Waltzed Matilda in Winton" t-shirts etc.
6. Art. Outback art. This is a very tricky one. The Centre or at least the fee-charged section is not an art gallery for promoting local art. However to walk in to the foyer and have as part of the modest decoration some Council-owned work by Pro Hart (considered the father of the outback painting movement), Jack Absalom or some other very "famous name artist" would be nice. I have come across very old Australian art going for remarkably low prices recently. It is worth considering. It sort of lifts things and in a way is a compliment to the visitor. Insure them well though.
7. There are other things no doubt.. old bush artifacts. Militaria perhaps... medals. Letters of the period. Talk to the Banjo Paterson museum in Yeoval, smile sweetly and see what deals can be struck.
8. Having made appropriate provision for safe storage I would launch a public appeal for display material.
On the other hand, one could obtain "promises to loan or sell" items from donors and then only take possession when the (modest) Stage One is complete.
MY very main concern is that Traditional Poetry.. Paterson, Lawson and their contemporaries ...are prominently featured and not ignored or sidelined.
A.B. Paterson.. Waltzing Matilda.. Winton... it is ALL and I mean ALL about Australian ballad poetry. If there is a shortage of physical display material, then there is certainly an acre of wonderful and beautiful old bush poetry material. I know a lot about it having collected it for decades.
I hope that it is how it develops, but to be honest I can see nothing that gives me confidence that that is the way it is going.
I guess everyone has their own view on the direction the rebuild should take. This is just mine, and I claim it as nothing more than that.. no better or worse than other opinions.
Having moved on past the emotional stuff and yes it is agreed it is a sad and tragic loss, the tough part .. the recovery.. has to be addressed.
Personally though I have seen nothing on-line to give me any confidence about the project.
Even the Winton Shire Website.. quote...
"We will keep you updated on the progress of the rebuild as events unfold"... says Cr Butch Lenton, MAYOR, WINTON SHIRE COUNCIL. In the meantime (the website says) if you want to send your cheque etc.... Well I am still waiting for an update as promised, and equally they will be waiting a long time for any cheque from me, I can guarantee that.
"There will be a formal launch of the Waltzing Matilda Recovery Fund in the near future..." ... yeah , right.. the near future.