Museum Opening 2011

The formal opening of the Eucalyptus Distillery Museum  took place on July 7, 2011.  It was fairly cold after several days of freezing weather, however the morning opened up with not a cloud in the sky and glorious sunshine!!

Launch of Inglewood's Self Drive CD 

The ceremony was preceed by the launch of the Inglewood's Self-Drive CD project  by the Mayor of Loddon Shire, Councillor Gavan Holt.  Mayor spoke of the significance of tourism in the shire, the need to have facilities such as the new museum and the benefits to the Shire and townships of tourists staying and increasing the average spend.  Councillor Holt thanked the members of the Inglewood Development & Tourism Committee who provided the material and worked with the Loddon Shire to develop the CD. 

The CD is free and available from the various tourist information centres in Inglewood and the Shire, and will be shortly downloadable from the Sire website:  Go to Tours site   

Thank you certificates being presented to the volunteers by Mayor Gavan Holt. 

Opening of the Museum

Committee Secretary Murray Baud was the Master of Ceremonies and welcomed the guests.  There were numerous well wishes for the day, including from the Governor of Victoria Mr Alex Chernov, AO QC and the Honorable Premier of Victoria Mr Ted Baillieu.    Committee President Mrs Lynette Rose then addressed the gathering and summarised the project, thanking the many and varied people who contributed to the concept and plan development, the grants and planning approvals, and the construction and building stages.   

Mr Peter Abbott,  Chairman of Felton, Grimwade and Bosisto's Pty Ltd spoke on his original vision for the site when donating the land and distillery to the community.  He expressed his confidence in the industry,  mentioned some  future development plans and biofuel possibilities and was delighted that the finished museum precinct  had far exceeded  his expectations.  He finished by presenting a superb Kenneth Jack print of the original distillery to President Lyn Rose.    Mrs Rose was delighted to recieve the gift for the Museum.

Mr Damian Drum, MLC Northern Victoria Region and Parliamentary Secretary Regional Development then summarised the valuable role these facilities provided to the communities, the cost effectiveness of the development and expressed his satisfaction with the project outcome.  He highlighted that the real champions were the people in the room,  who had converted the vison into real developments.   To complete the ceremony,  three plaques were unveilled, commemorating the opening of the Museum,  the gift of the site and distillery by Felton Grimwade and Bosisto's and thirdly the recognition of the project funding from Local, State and Federal governments. 

Pictures from the opening: