‘My ancestors would be very unhappy’: Descendant disappointed at Wonnerup House Collection deterioration

A family member of the first man to live at Wonnerup House has expressed her disappointment at the care shown to items held by the National Trust of WA, saying poor management has led to mould damage and items having animal droppings on them. Linda Edwards is the great-great-great granddaughter of George Layman I — the building’s first resident. Her family have donated numerous items to the trust for display, including furniture, embroideries and even a 19th-century Bible with a lock of Mr Layman’s hair. More than three years after the items were pulled down from the house for remodelling, they have been left in a state Ms Edwards said was unsatisfactory. “I’m very sad to see the way the furniture has been left to just deteriorate like that,” she said. “I feel that my ancestors would be very unhappy to know that they trusted in the National Trust to look after this furniture — this significant furniture for the family and for the State.” Ms Edwards said she was told about mould by the National Trust of WA in January and she saw some some of the items still had mould and animal droppings on them when helping move them for a temporary display at Busselton’s Old Courthouse in March. A National Trust of WA spokesperson said the items had worn because of the house’s age, and any items not already in a secure Perth storage site would be moved there soon. “The main buildings at Wonnerup House date from circa 1837 and circa 1859, and understandably are not tightly sealed or climate-controlled,” they said. “Some (items) have been adversely affected by previous display conditions, and these factors will be taken into account during the development of the interpretation strategy. “They will be assessed by a professional conservator, and treatment will be undertaken as recommended. “The majority of the collection, primarily small artefacts, are in secure storage in Perth. “The remaining collection, which comprises large objects, is scheduled for relocation to Perth in coming weeks.” Despite multiple email correspondences with the National Trust over the years in which Ms Edwards was promised to be on the stakeholders committee and at a 2023 meeting with an NTWA-contracted historian, she said no answers had been given as to the items’ future. Now Ms Edwards wants answers about what will happen next, saying there needs to accountability. “I’d like to see them be accountable, to have a duty of care as to what’s been donated to them over the years,” she said. “If they can’t care for it, I would like them to repatriate the furniture, the items, the photos, everything back to the families or have them on proper display and be properly conserved and properly looked after.” The National Trust of WA spokesperson said the display was being given time to rest and would not go back up until a long-term plan had been made. “The artefacts previously exhibited at Wonnerup House were removed while the buildings were being re-roofed, including those from the schoolhouse and teacher’s house,” they said. “They remain safely in secure storage while planning studies and consultations are being undertaken. We do not intend returning these artefacts to display until we have a considered approach to the interpretation of the place. “The National Trust is committed to ensuring that the interpretation of Wonnerup House is well planned and provides a positive visitor experience for the community. This work takes time, particularly in an organisation with limited resources. “The majority of the collection has been on continual display since Wonnerup House opened to the public in 1973, and it is timely that it is given some time to rest. “Permanent exhibition is not ideal other than for the most robust of objects. The entire collection, particularly the more sensitive materials such as organic materials, books and pictures, will be subject to assessment and treatment by a conservator before being exhibited.” The NTWA spokesperson said continual display was not suitable for the items but their being put on display at other sites would be considered when requests were made. “As stated above, artefacts will be returned to Wonnerup House for exhibition in the future, while others may remain in storage or be displayed at other properties,” they said. “Storage is an active part of managing any collection and makes a positive contribution to the ongoing care of the artefacts, particularly textiles and paper, which are vulnerable to damage from extended display. “These artefacts form a significant component of the National Trust’s permanent collection and we do not intend deaccessioning any of the Wonnerup House artefacts. “Loans to other museums will be considered on request, and in fact some were made available for loan to a recent exhibition in Busselton.”