00:05Bidding farewell to old friends.
00:08I was just talking to them and reassuring them that they're going to be safe.
00:14These wooden crocodiles and about two and a half thousand other artefacts to be retired
00:19to offsite storage as the South Australian Museum begins a years long restoration project.
00:25Because it's in a foreign land and I don't know what's going to happen to it.
00:30And I think not knowing the future of it that makes me sad that they're going to put it
00:35to rest today.
00:36A lot of these materials have been on display for a few decades now, actually even this hut
00:41has been here since 1936 and so it's our responsibility to now put these items to rest.
00:48The collection will also be digitalised in 3D.
00:51Having it preserved so that someone else, 10, 20 years from now when we're all gone,
00:57the younger generation can come and still continue to enjoy these things.
01:01This is the largest Melanesian display in Australia but most of the items come from just one country,
01:07Papua New Guinea, from the late 19th century until the First World War.
01:12The exciting piece of work that I'm really looking forward to doing is to really go out
01:16to the community and look at that region holistically and make sure that we have representation from
01:21across the region.
01:22The space will be used for ticketed exhibitions in the meantime.
01:26Some fear the decision's motivated by funding.
01:29I think the museum is desperate to have a space where they can attract blockbuster type ticketed
01:37exhibitions.
01:38The museum's assuring it's committed to bringing back an expanded collection in coming years.
01:44To be continued....
01:47... Hydravee
01:48Edamine
01:48Was
01:48Jay
01:48Them
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