Supporters cheer Busso museum’s big reopening

Nearly three years after it was ravaged by fire, the Busselton Museum is set for a triumphant reopening.

The blaze burnt out the second storey of the old Butter Factory, where the museum is housed, in March 2018, just weeks after its 100th anniversary.

Thanks to the hard work and tireless dedication of an army of volunteers, the museum’s doors are set to reopen on December 19.

Stephanie Piper became a volunteer after being devastated by footage of the fire. She is how the museum’s vice-president and has been integral to its recovery.

“It has been a long, long time coming,” she said.

“It was devastating when it burnt ... it was heartbreaking just to see it on TV.

“It is a passion. It really grips you.

“We are passionate about old things, we are passionate about Busselton history, and we really just want to see it get up and running.”

The reopening was delayed by the discovery of asbestos during the rebuild, giving volunteers just four months to get nearly 30,000 items back into the facility.

“Every time we came close to getting back in here, they found more asbestos,” Mrs Piper said.

“When people come into the museum they can expect a lot of the things they are familiar with and they know, but they will find a new way of displaying them.”