Maritime Museum on deck for school holidays

23/9/05
The Fremantle Maritime Museum will be fully operational for the school holidays on Saturday, following the completion of repairs to its glass panels.
Culture and Arts Minister Sheila McHale today said work to cover 300 glass panels with special security film following two recent breakages had finished a month ahead of schedule.
"As of this Saturday, the entire museum and its amazing collection will be fully operational once again," Ms McHale said.
The Minister announced in May that the museum's entire collection would remain visible during the work, but the lower galleries would be cordoned off to ensure public safety.
"However, the museum's upper floor galleries, submarine, function centre, theatre and the underwater photographic exhibition all remained open," she said.
Ms McHale said she had been advised the cause of the breakages was thought to be a chemical reaction, which on rare occasions caused the glass to expand and break.
The Minister said the breakages followed similar incidents in buildings interstate and overseas.
"A comprehensive risk management assessment was undertaken as soon as the problem came to my attention in May," she said.
"Since then, experts have examined and tested various ways of best minimising the risk of further problems with the glass."
Ms McHale said efforts to recoup some of the costs involved were still being investigated.
Minister's office: 9213 6900