Proposals made back in 2022 to build a new stadium on the Penrith Paceway site saw the future of the Penrith Museum of Printing up in the air.
Now, with the redevelopment of the stadium confirmed to be confined to its existing site, it’s full steam ahead for the museum – but they still need help to continue to thrive.
The Penrith Museum of Printing first opened back in 2001, aiming to preserve the history of printing for future generations to see. Now, they boast centuries worth of books, newspaper and equipment, all in working condition.
“We try to make this a living museum, we’re not a static display, and we’re here to make it so that people can come in and participate on every machine, and have a look at it running,” President, Bob Lockley said.
After over 20 years of smooth sailing, the museum was placed in jeopardy when the Penrith Paceway site was proposed to be acquired by the NSW Government.
“We had nowhere to go. Nowhere,” Vice President, John Berry reflected.
Fortunately, with the help of the Paceway, the site and the museum were saved, and they’ve been going from strength to strength.
One of the museum’s primary means of income is through its tour groups and courses done with different organisations, including typography and poster courses.
They’ve since expanded these to school groups, seeing students who grew up in the digital age introduced to machinery from hundreds of years before they were born.
“We’re starting to get some seven- to 12-year-olds, and we’re getting a few high schools, and they want to learn about the history of printing,” Lockley said.
“We try and be funny, and they love all of that. We try to send them out of here educated, and having had a good time.”
They’ve also been able to do some external work.
“We’ve spent a lot of money now on the building lately, because we heard we could stay,” Lockley said.
“Before, the roof leaked, and now we’ve got all new sky lights – you couldn’t see in here without the lights on!”
However, that doesn’t mean they’re in the clear, with the museum still needing help with money to get new machines, and potentially move into a larger premises in the future.
“Raising money is our hardest bit,” Lockley said.
“We have some help from a couple of industry organisations, and sponsors continue to help.”
The organisation, which runs solely through volunteers, also needs members to help maintain and run everything alongside their newly attained electricians and engineers – particularly young people who can carry it forward.
“We try to encourage young people to come in, but they can’t come because they’ve got families, they’ve got work. They just haven’t got the time,” Lockley said.
“How do we keep this thing going? I guess most museums are in the same boat.”
Find out more at http://www.printingmuseum.org.au.
Cassidy Pearce
Cassidy Pearce is a news and entertainment journalist with The Western Weekender. A graduate of the University of Technology Sydney, she has previously worked with Good Morning Macarthur and joined the Weekender in 2022.