The popular Penrith Museum of Printing will reopen its doors next week after undergoing an extensive renovation and expansion to deal with increasing numbers of visitors.
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| The new foyer featuring a copper wall plaque depicting Gutenberg's workshop |
The Not for Profit organisation located in Penrith, NSW, dedicated to the preservation of letterpress printing, will be officially re-opened in an event on Wednesday, 21st November at 18:00.
Numbers are limited so R.S.V.P. ralockley07@gmail.com
The new foyer includes a copper wall plaque depicting Gutenberg's workshop that was gifted by Stan Halkeas to print historian James Cryer - who donated it to the PIAA and has now found a safe place for it.
The museum, which has one of the largest collections of working letterpress machines in Australia, is featured in a new film called Ladies in Black by acclaimed Australian director Bruce Beresford that was released in September 2018.
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| On the set of Ladies in Black. |
A key scene for the movie - based on Madeleine St John’s bestselling novel The Women in Black - was shot inside the Penrith Museum of Printing.. A few minor cosmetic changes over a couple of days and the Museum was transformed into the composing room of The Sydney Morning Herald during the summer of 1959. Members of the museum spent time working with Shane Jacobson (above, 6th from left), one of the stars of the film, turning him into a seasoned Linotype Operator.
The story of the Museum begins in 1987 with founder Alan Connell, who wanted to develop a working museum of letterpress printing machinery and equipment. Many years passed before Alan's dream was realised via a Commonwealth Government Federation Fund Grant. The Penrith Museum of Printing was officially opened in June 2001 by Jackie Kelly, M.P. for Lindsay, and the then Minister for Sport and Tourism.
A large proportion of the machinery and equipment on display started its working life in the former Nepean Times newspaper in Penrith, and many other items have been donated by present or past printing establishments.
The museum is fully managed and operated by volunteers dedicated to showcasing letterpress printing equipment and techniques for present and future generations.
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| A group tour at the museum. |
Penrith Museum of Printing is located at the Penrith Showground Paceway complex, on the corner of Mulgoa Rd and Ransley St, Penrith, NSW.
