A FOUNDER of Warrnambool’s Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village has described controversy over missing pieces of the historical collection as mischief and rumour.
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Former mayor John Lindsay, who was instrumental in starting the tourism drawcard in the 1970s, said the fuss over alleged missing lead ingots and damaged copper sheets from the 1878 Loch Ard shipwreck was a storm in a teacup.
His comments came after Heritage Victoria confirmed it was investigating the care and storage of items at the village.
An audit last year revealed a shortfall in the 870 lead ingots loaned to the village in 1984, prompting conjecture on whether they had been stolen, misplaced or lost.
Officially there’s a discrepancy of 66 ingots and an assurance that most will be found in the hull of the Rowitta display vessel when it is dismantled this year. Some are also on loan to the Port Fairy historic lifeboat and Port Campbell visitor centre.
However, there is growing suspicion some may remain unaccounted for.
“I wonder what is the motivation of people who keep asking about missing items,” Mr Lindsay said yesterday.
“I think it’s mischievous.
“This seems to be based on rumour and innuendo.”
Mr Lindsay, who has been involved as a volunteer with cataloguing and display of the collection, said it was not unusual for museums to lose track of some items.
“There are more than 10,000 items at Flagstaff Hill and the cataloguing is among the best in Victoria,” he said.
“If it was the famous Loch Ard peacock we would have a right to be concerned, but a few bags of ballast when we’ve got heaps of them ...
“I can’t remember any visitors coming in and saying they wanted to see our ballast.”
Mr Lindsay paid tribute to former Warrnambool art gallery director Jack Welsh and former Flagstaff Hill curators Ken Marshman and Peter Ronald for early cataloguing.
In recent years paper records have been transferred to computer and each item photographed in a continuing project by volunteers.
“I think the collection is in good hands,” he said.
“I’m impressed by the professional way it’s been set up.”
Mr Lindsay supported moves to revamp the village, which was established to produce an off-season tourism attraction.
“We need to make history more alive, get innovative programs and some buildings need refreshing,” he said.
“Flagstaff Hill still serves its purpose.
“In 1972 there were nine motels, five hotels and two caravan parks — now there are many more than that.
“It has inspired a lot of people to invest for a year-round tourism season.”
