Collection Donations
National Railway Museum
Collection Donations
At the NRM, we take care of our collections to the highest possible standard. However, this is a costly and time consuming exercise, and as such the Museum must be selective in what it chooses to accept. Items must be meaningful and make a significant contribution to the story that the NRM is trying to convey. We therefore need to discuss your proposed donation with you before accepting any items. The overarching document that governs what we collect at the NRM is the National Railway Museum Collection Policy.
What happens with my collection once I donate?
When you donate your items to the collection, they are catalogued and added to our collection management system. Once that is completed, they may be used for:
- Research
- Displays and exhibitions
- Presentations
- Videos
- Online content
- Loaned to other organisations for temporary exhibitions
Donation Checklist
Please look over the checklist below to determine if your object is suitable for our collection:
- Is the item related to Australian railway history? (necessary)
- Can you describe what it is? (necessary)
- Do you know who made it?
- Do you know its history? (necessary)
- Are there any personal stories associated with it?
- Where did you get it from?
- Can you confirm that you or the legal owner would be happy to transfer ownership of the item permanently to the NRM? (necessary)
- Can you provide a digital image of it, including close up shots of any identifying marks?
- Can you describe its physical condition, including whether it is in good/fair/poor condition?
If you can provide information for at least the four questions marked ‘necessary’, your item may be useful for the NRM.
If you would like to offer a donation to the NRM, please fill out the Donation Information Form and send it to the Curator and Business Manager. A response will be given as soon as practicable. Donations must be approved by the Curator and Business Manager or the relevant Collection Manager before being given to the Museum. Any item that has not been through that process will not be accepted.
If you would like more information, please contact Curator and Business Manager.
Before finalising your bequest please make an appointment to discuss your plans with the Curator and Business Manager. If you are intending to bequest items to the Museum, it is important to check with us that we are the most appropriate recipient. Please also consider making provision for transport costs for your collection, as these costs can be prohibitive.
Making A Financial Donation To The National Railway Museum
If you would like to make a financial donation to the National Railway Museum, please let us know. You can make a donation as part of your membership, or separately. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.
What will my financial donation or bequest be used for?
Your funds may be used in the following ways:
- Assisting with costs of collection restoration
- Purchasing storage materials to keep our collections safe
- Purchasing display infrastructure to assist in building exhibitions and improving displays
- Purchasing tools and consumables for maintenance projects and operations
- Assisting with costs of volunteer training
- They will NOT be used to cover costs of staffing