A vision for the Paterson Barracks has been revealed.
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Representatives of four historically focused community groups have pledged their support towards creating a Launceston History Research Centre.
In June, Defence Minister Marise Payne announced that Launceston’s Paterson Barracks will be closed and $5 million spent to build new facilities at the larger Youngtown Barracks.
Launceston History Research Centre spokesman John Dent said a partnership between like-minded organisations could see the establishment of a community-owned and operated facility.
The groups, which have met with City of Launceston and Defence Department representatives about the project, are the Launceston Historical Society, the Launceston branch of the Tasmanian Family History Society, the friends of the Launceston Mechanics’ Institute, and the Royal Australian Artillery Association.
The bold plan, Mr Dent explained, could see a hub created that attracts tourists, researchers and historians, and links the Seaport precinct to the central business district.
Mr Dent said by opening the area up to the community and removing the fences around the facility, the research centre would not only enhance Launceston’s heritage but preserve historical collections that were gathering dust and decaying.
“The Launceston community needs to take control and ownership of Launceston’s history,” Mr Dent said.
The idea formed several years ago, after space needed to be found for the 20,000-odd books in the Launceston Mechanics’ Institute collection.
Renovations at the LINC in 2014 meant there was not enough space for the archive, and it has now been sorted and catalogued in a room at the University of Tasmania’s Newnham campus.
“It's a pretty unique collection in Australia, there is one other but we think this is probably bigger and better than that and more intact,” Mr Dent said.
“It even has the lending record of who borrowed the books when and where, so there is tremendous research potential.
“A lot of them were rotting ... they had mould on them and we have been able to stop them from getting worse and put them on shelves and preserve them so they aren’t going to decay.”
Mr Dent said the room on loan at UTAS was only meant to be a temporary fix, with a permanent home the long-term aim.
The Launceston community needs to take control and ownership of Launceston’s history
- John Dent, Launceston History Research Centre
By bringing the community organisation together Mr Dent said it strengthened not only the Mechanics’ Institute collection, but access to other resources.
A great deal of Launceston’s history is held in the private homes of society members and is confusing to navigate, he said.
“It is really hard keeping track of it and sometimes you can't access it if it’s in someone's homes, and some have just gone as people move away or die,” Mr Dent said.
“We get quite a few people coming form interstate or overseas wanting to find out their family history, because that’s a growing area of interest, and we think there is even more scope for that to expand in the future to do some more personalised investigations for people.
“I think there is a growing demand from people who want to connect to where their ancestors lived and worked and that is something we would like to do but there is no room and we are all split.
“Having a central location where we can coordinate things would be better.”
The research centre would house more than books - there are also plans to open a museum to showcase two shipping containers of material from the Royal Australian Artillery Association.
The Paterson Barracks commissariat store also has a rich history, which would suit the collections, Mr Dent said.
It is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Launceston and was built from 1826 to 1829, to provide food and clothing for convicts.
As the project is in the early stages, an exact funding model is yet to be confirmed.