New Banjo Paterson museum more than poetry

‘Banjo Paterson... More Than a Poet’ is in the Central West village of Yeoval, the town where young ‘Barty’ spent a good part of his childhood on the family’s Buckinbah Station.

The museum opening capped off a week of celebrations around the Orange area for the Banjo Paterson Festival. Paterson was born just outside of Orange before moving to Yeoval.

The new museum exhibition tells the story of Paterson through writings and associated memorabilia. 

Handwritten letters, unpublished poems, photos, stories, editorials and lots of memorabilia of the era are all woven together in an informative historical display.

Established by Yeoval locals Alf and Sharon Cantrell, the museum is a real labour of love. 

“It’s been a long and hardworking road that we’ve taken here and we have what I believe to be, a wonderful exhibition that will be great for Yeoval.” Yeoval already attracts visitors from around the country to see the place of Banjo’s childhood, Alf said. The museum, he hopes, will “draw more people to our community.”

The items on show have been collected over 10 years by the Cantrells. There are heirlooms from the Cantrell family and scores of items donated by Banjo fans from around the country. Displays range from information boards recollecting periods of Banjo’s life to Yeoval’s world record billy can collection and interactive activities and photo opportunities.

Brave visitors can sit in a barber’s chair and put on a fluffy beard like the Man from Ironbark; kids can have a go at an ‘old fashioned’ typewriter or have their photo taken in a soldier’s hat sitting atop a saddle.

There are plans for further exhibits, including a wool display, out the back.

Former deputy prime minister The Hon Tim Fischer officially opened the museum.

Mr Fischer said the museum and exhibition was an iconic part of Australian history and the work completed was a tribute to the Cantrells and the Yeoval community.

He praised their foresight in preserving and celebrating a part of the countries bush heritage.

Banjo’s words dominated the opening event with students from St Columba Catholic School leading the crowd in a Waltzing Matilda sing-along and reciting the poem Mulga Bill.

There was poetry too from Dubbo Mayor Matthew Dickerson and son Andy who performed The Man from Ironbark and from Mr Fischer himself who gave a passionate reading of Clancy of the Overflow. 

Whilst Paterson is best known as the great bush balladeer, he was also a noted public speaker, a journalist and a war correspondent in the Boer War and the First World War, roles that are also celebrated amongst the exhibits. 

“He was a person who made an unbelievably fantastic contribution to the nation as a soldier,” Mr Fischer reminded the crowd.

Open daily 9am-3pm, the museum in Forbes St includes a cafe and toilets as well as an outdoor children play area. It’s across the road from the Banjo Paterson Bush Park which itself has a wide selection of sculptures, including monuments to Paterson.