Cruise Ships A Major Museum Boon

Proserpine Museum is experiencing its own miniature “Renaissance period” thanks to the return of cruise ships bringing in museumgoers by the busload.

The local institution has welcomed an influx of travellers over the past six months similar to pre-Cyclone Debbie levels.

Proserpine Museum volunteer Gloria Cowan said the cruise ships – which began returning in June 2022 – are providing the non-for-profit with its second-largest injection of funding, just behind the annual Book Bonanza.

“As the museum is run entirely by volunteers, all funding goes towards maintenance – which is usually covered by the Bonanza,” Ms Cowan said.

“With the number of people coming from across the world thanks to these cruises, we will be able to afford more than just upkeep.”

Passengers from the United States and Europe have dropped by en masse at the Proserpine Museum, coming fresh from the cruise ships in numbers as high as 320 people per day.

“They will often arrive in the morning buses with as many as 50 people as part of these tours out to Proserpine,” Ms Cowan said.

“Then 15 more buses will come throughout the day and they are always extremely interested in the history of Proserpine and our museum – most have no prior knowledge of the sugar industry or of our town at all.

“It has been excellent for the museum and for the volunteers. The majority of the time, they’re walking out of the door wishing they had more time to explore!”

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Proserpine Museum volunteers Gloria Cowan, Peter Harling, Ros Gardel, and Julianne O’Brien. Photo credit: Declan Durrant