Manjimup residents to enjoy free entry to ‘under-utilised’ Power Up and State Timber museums until June 2025

Shire of Manjimup residents will receive free entry to two museums until next June as part of a move to encourage visitors to the facilities. The council announced last week those living in the shire will be able to visit the Power Up Museum and the State Timber Museum at Manjimup Heritage Park for free for the rest of the financial year, provided they show ID proving they live in the area. Shire president Donelle Buegge said the two museums have been “quite under-utilised” since 2020, likely due to the impacts of COVID-19. “It’d be really great to have some more locals come and see what’s really in here,” she said. Ms Buegge said while many tourists have been through the doors, people in the shire may not be aware of what is in the museum and hopes the free tickets will attract more people. She said the museums were “doing really well” with overseas tourists prior to the pandemic. “The overseas visitation is only just coming back to pre-COVID levels. This has really suffered from that,” Ms Buegge said. The Power Up Electricity Museum features some of Western Australia’s first generating sets, examples of early electric vehicles and a collection of early electrical domestic appliances. “This is the history of the electricity, where it’s come from, and all the different artefacts,” Ms Buegge said. “You’d be surprised at what you find that you may recognise from earlier in your lifetime.” From the first light bulb to the future of solar energy, the Power Up Museum is an interactive experience taking visitors down memory lane and back to the present day. The museum, opened in late 2019, is in the same building shared by the Manjimup Visitor Centre and Park Cafe. “There’s lots of touchy-feely stuff in here that the kids can have a look at,” Ms Buegge said. “Get a coffee, come and have a sit down, do your office work, and let the kids have a look.” Ms Buegge said the venue is also a function centre where dinners and presentations have been held. “It gets used for different things as well, not just the museum — it’s a great place to have a wedding,” she said. On the outside of the building is the State Timber Museum, which originally opened in 1977 and highlights the history of WA’s timber industry and the role it plays in the life of people living in the Southern Forest region. Ms Buegge is hopeful the free entry initiative will pay off. “We’re hoping that if you come and have a look, you bring some friends with you and increase that visibility and visitation to the sector,” she said. The free entry will continue until June 30, with children under 16 needing to be accompanied by an adult.