Visit to Perth Museum

Members, friends and family at a guided tour of the Museum

Jon Babb, team leader of the Entertainment Committee organised a guided tour of the Museum and the Stone of Destiny on Saturday 22^nd February. Some 23 Rotarians, family and friends took the opportunity to see round some of the highlights.

We learned that the museum’s collection is considered to be of national importance and has several unique items on display – e.g. a silk doublet, and a kahu kākāpō, a Māori cloak woven with the feathers of kakapo parrots which has been in the Perth collections since the mid 19th century and is believed to be the only surviving complete example. Such garments were always rare and precious, made for ceremonial wear by the highest status individuals.

Perth is the UK’s only UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk Art and we were shown some of the traditional crafts such as the Glovers Guild that Perth was renouned for.

Some other highlights included the 3000-year old 9 metre long Carpow log boat discovered in the Tay in 2001 and the St Madoes Pictish stone.