Melbourne Museum of Printing faces closure

Melbourne Museum of Printing could become history unless it receives some urgently needed support and funding.

After years of running on donations from volunteers, the museum is now facing eviction from its current premises in Footscray, Victoria and simply has no money left to pay its rent.

The museum was set up in the early 80s as a warehouse at 91 Moreland Street, Footscray, originally called the Australian Type Company, producing metal types, before changing name and running classes for print students from 1992.

Following six years of storage, with no revenue, a new location was found at 36 Moreland Street and the museum was restarted. But the supporters had used up all of their reserves and funds are now in short supply.

67-year-old print enthusiast and curator, Michael Isaachsen, (pictured) has been the driving force for the museum's conception and longevity and is now at a wit's end.

"I have sold and mortgaged everything for this museum," he said.

"It is arguably the most comprehensive printing museum in the world, and offers great programs for the graphics industry, but it is time for others to relieve me of the financial burden and let me get on with running it."

Isaachsen has been collecting printing equipment and memorabilia since he was a child. He despairs that his extensive collection – only five per cent of which is currently on display – could all be lost.

"The collection includes printing presses, typesetting systems, artefacts and documents which illustrate every era of printing from Gutenberg to the present day,"
he said.

Running the museum effectively would require external support up to $200,000 a year, though Isaachsen notes that around $8000 a month would protect the collection
and allow further negotiations.

Pictured: Inside the museum.

Isaachsen remains optimistic that there is a future for the museum and that his efforts have no been in vain.

"For the last 15 years I have worked without a holiday and sold or given up everything I had to keep this going," he said.

"There is really only one solution: to find a business or government entity that recognises the museum's value and provides the much-needed support for it to go forward."

Isaachsen added that if the museum is closed, most of the equipment will be "sent to the scrap heap."

Anyone interested in helping the museum can do so by contacting Isaachsen on 03 9689 7555 or curator@printingmuseums.com