Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan today
officially re-opened the extensively refurbished
Franco-Australian Museum at Villers-Bretonneux in
France, in company with the local Mayor, Mr Patrick
Simon.
Mr Tehan said the Australian Government had
contributed more than $2 million to the project, which
included the reconstruction and refurbishment of a
complete section of the existing Victoria School, in
which the museum is located. The now larger and more
contemporary museum facility houses the
Franco-Australian Association’s extensive collection of
objects.
“The Franco-Australian Museum is a symbol of the
longstanding friendship between France and Australia,
and its remarkable collection is a record of the close
bond between the people of Villers-Bretonneux and the
people of Australia,” Mr Tehan said.
“The reimagined and redeveloped museum and exhibition
is a credit to the efforts of the Franco-Australian
Association and the town to remember and honour the
First World War and the contribution made by Australians
at Villers-Bretonneux.”
The refurbishment was conducted as part of the
Australian Remembrance Trail along the Western Front
under an Australian Government initiative delivered by
the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in cooperation with
French and Belgian authorities. It is aimed at
establishing a commemorative trail highlighting sites of
significance to the Australian experience of the Western
Front during the First World War.
