NOTHING DULL IN THIS MUSEUM
ONE of Geelong’s most iconic buildings will soon house the city’s first children’s museum.
The Wintergarden in McKillop St is set to become the Museum of Play and Art (MoPA) from December.
After securing the lease just days ago, husband and wife MoPA directors Thomas Mahon and Billie Georgieff are planning to breathe new life into the building, which is set to feature 30 immersive exhibits.
“This place has such a rich and colourful history, and we are so excited to be working with building owner Grant Porter to turn it into a place that’s perfect for the next generation,” said Mr Mahon, who has a background in various creative roles.
“MoPA will be a space for Geelong’s young families to play, create, learn, eat and relax together.”
Mr Mahon was tight-lipped about what the exhibits would be, but said the experiences would be sensory and playbased, featuring science, technology, engineering and maths, as well as art.
He said the museum — which had been in the pipeline for two years — would be aimed at children aged 4-10, and revealed there would be an element of water.
“We researched and toured 50 of the world’s best kids’ museums and we were inspired by the best of what we saw,” he said. “There won’t be much you can’t touch.”
Mr Porter said he was excited about the project.
“I sifted through lots of lease applications for The Wintergarden, but MoPA stood out to me as an opportunity to enrich Geelong’s already vibrant arts and culture scene,” he said.
“I love the idea of The Wintergarden being a place for families to learn and be creative together.”
Ms Georgieff said the museum was inspired by her two young children.
“We’re designing the space with kids at the core of what we do,” she said.
Mr Mahon said he planned to engage with schools and kindergartens, which could use the museum as an excursion destination.
He would not reveal the cost of the development, but said the building’s former life as a cafe and gallery had already laid much of the foundations for the museum.
“Families will have an absolute blast here; slapping paint on real cars, performing for each other on stage, building and smashing toy cars on massive custom-built tracks, getting lost in mazes and cubbies, interacting with digital displays, and exploring a range of science-based exhibits,” Mr Mahon said.
The museum will also feature a cafe, feeding rooms, change rooms, pram parking, low-sensory spaces and special needs days.
It is expected to operate every day and will cater for birthday parties and functions, according to the MoPA website.