Council & Business
10 September, 2024
Maryborough chain to return
A relic reminiscent of Maryborough’s self-contained past — prior to the formation of the Central Goldfields Shire — could soon be returned to its rightful place after being on loan for over a decade.
At last month’s meeting, councillors unanimously moved in favour of a motion which sought to initiate the return of the Maryborough Mayoral Chain, currently on loan to the Sovereign Hill’s Gold Museum of Ballarat.
“Many years ago, council loaned the [chain] to the [museum]... for a major exhibition of important goldfields memorabilia,” Cr Geoff Lovett said as he introduced his motion.
“The loan was accompanied by a letter stating that this was a temporary loan, and the chain remains the property of the Central Goldfields Shire.
“I have a real concern, that as people leave the organisation past actions are forgotten and items of historical importance can be lost.”
Cr Grace La Vella also championed the motion, and said it was time the borrowed chain came home.
“From the moment we were elected in 2020, I was quite bemused by the fact that we didn’t have the Maryborough chain,” she said.
“[It’s] in Ballarat — what is it doing in Ballarat, it’s ours.
“I really do feel we need to get them back into our [possession].”
According to Cr Chris Meddows-Taylor, before the mayoral chain was loaned out, it was locked away in a deposit box because of its “gold content”.
“There was nowhere safe, at that stage, for it to be safely displayed so consequently it lived in the bank vault and no one could see it,” he said.
In the Gold Museum, Cr Meddows-Taylor said, the chain was able to be exhibited safely.
“That time has come and gone,” he said.
“Now, I really agree that it’s part of our heritage and I think we could hopefully also [securely] display [the chain].”
As part of his motion, Cr Lovett also highlighted another artefact in need of returning.
“Similarly, the ‘Daly Letter’ has been loaned to the Midlands Historical Society in perpetuity, again, with a covering letter, stating that this document remains the property of Central Goldfields Shire,” he said.
“With council’s return to the Maryborough Town Hall imminent, these items of historical important become increasingly crucial.
“I am hopeful both, the chain and letter, can be publically displayed in the future.”