Bunbury motor museum set to open in November

The wheels are officially turning to make the Bunbury Geographe Motor Museum a reality after city councillors voted to enter into a lease agreement with the group driving it.

The museum will see a collection of about 100 vintage cars and motorcycles showcased in the old South’s Furniture building in the Bunbury CBD.

Plans for the museum – which is expected to bring 18,000 visitors and bring more than $4 million in economic benefits – hit a snag last month when the City of Bunbury and Bunbury Geographe Motor Museum Management Group failed to agree on the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding.

The MOU put to the council on March 31 stated if after five years, the city chose to enact a redevelopment clause, it would help the group find another premises, but not help pay for its fit-out.

However the MOU was revised and at Tuesday night’s meeting, councillors agreed if the clause was enacted, the council of the day would decide on how much funding would be put towards the fit-out of a new location.

Lease negotiations are under way and once signed, the group will fit out the building, through a $150,000 commitment from the city and a $100,000 contribution from the not-for-profit group made up of local businesspeople and car enthusiasts. BGMM chairman Paul Stubber was delighted and looked forward to opening the museum in November.

“We are very proud to not only be developing another tourist attraction for Bunbury, but contributing to kick starting the local economy again following a devastating pandemic,” he said.