Moorabbin Aviation Museum today launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for a new collection to be housed in new facility.
The museum, formerly the Australian National Aviation Museum, has been constrained by a lack of space for several years, but last Saturday the board announced that Goodman Group had granted a lease of 4000 sqm of land across the road from the existing museum.
A new $8 million building to be constructed on the land will house a collection of aircraft, several of which need restoration before they can be displayed. For the first time, the museum expects to be able to house all aircraft under cover.
A GoFundMe page has been created to raise money to help with the restoration projects.
"The culmination of over eight years (at least) of behind the scenes activity, this represents a major step forward for the Museum, and will help us establish the Community Heritage Precinct," a board statement issued last Saturday says.
"With the lease done, the hard work for the next couple of years begins! We are certainly looking for any donors who may wish to contribute to the construction of Phase One (the Civilian Collection). At the moment we are working on a budget of approx. $6-8 million for construction and fit out.
"Talks with the Government have been underway but hampered by the pandemic."
Aircraft believed to be in the frame for restoration include a Bristol Freighter, Vickers Viscount, DH Heron protoype, Dauphin, DC-3 and Ceres.
Donations for the museum's projects can be made on their GoFundMe page.