Hopes new outback museum will spark conversation about town's past

Birdsville's courthouse has officially reopened as a museum after a two-decade planning process. Local residents, including former residents, gathered for the opening ceremony. One family hopes the museum can foster discussions about the town's history, particularly its treatment of Indigenous Australians. The original courthouse, built from local materials on the outskirts of Munga-Thirri–Simpson Desert National Park, has endured harsh conditions over a century of operation.

It served as a police station until it was abandoned in 1988. Maria Sammon Wheeler, who lived in the building as a child during the 1960s, wants to preserve stories of life in those days. She noted that although conditions were harsh for families and wives, they were ideal for children to grow up. However, the courthouse also symbolized a challenging era when the government controlled local Indigenous people.

Retiring park ranger Don Rowlands, who has lived in Birdsville his whole life, recounted difficult memories of working for the police and delivering milk to the police officer. He expressed hope that the museum would provide a broader understanding of Birdsville's past. Several Indigenous elders, some of whom had not returned in nearly 30 years, participated in the opening ceremony.

Peta Rowlands, Don's daughter, organized for the elders to come together to celebrate Indigenous history. She believes the museum will allow for further storytelling and reflection, enabling the community to acknowledge both the good and bad aspects of the past, promoting healing and fostering connections to their culture. Diamantina Shire Mayor Francis Murray emphasized the importance of sharing different perspectives on the town's history, stating that everyone walked through the museum door together.