Simon Crean, Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government and Minister for the Arts visited the Port Macquarie Historical Museum (PMHS) briefly last Friday to announce the purchase of a significant sundial for the museum’s collection.
The sundial once belonged to Port Macquarie convict Daniel Cohen and is dated to the period 1837-39.
Mr Cohen was sent to Port Macquarie in 1832 and married here in 1837 before being granted a ticket of leave enabling him to move to Sydney in 1841. It is thought that the sundial was a wedding gift.
The purchase was made possible through the support of the National Cultural Heritage Account and Port Macquarie Hastings Council.
During the Minister’s visit, Debbie Sommers, Port Macquarie Historical Society vice-president, said how delighted they were to welcome the sundial home and thanked the National Cultural Heritage Account, the National Cultural Heritage committee who assessed the sundial funding application and Port Macquarie Hastings Council for their financial support.
She also acknowledged the assistance of Regional Museums Curator Liz Gillroy throughout the process.
The sundial is now on permanent public display at Port Macquarie Historical Museum, 22 Clarence Street, Port Macquarie.
