The Workshops Rail Museum wins at the Australian Tourism Awards

Congratulations to The Workshops Rail Museum for taking out the top gong in the heritage and cultural tourism category at the 2011 Australian Tourism Awards.

According to Brisbane Marketing Chief Executive Officer John Aitken, the award was a well deserved recognition for the museum.

“The Workshops Rail Museum is an outstanding attraction for Ipswich and the Greater Brisbane and this award is a credit to the staff and volunteers for their hard workd and dedication,” Mr Aitken said.

Arts Minister and Ipswich Member Rachel Nolan congratulated The Workshops Rail Museum after it took out the coveted award.

“Now the rest of Australia knows what we already did – The Workshops Rail Museum is a winner,” Ms Nolan said.

“It already won national recognition in 2007, taking out the prestigious Best Heritage and Cultural Tourist Experience, and now staff will have to make room on the mantelpiece for another trophy.”

The Ipswich museum beat Fremantle Prison (WA), Venture North (NT), Museum of Australian Democracy (ACT), Old Melbourne Gaol (VIC), Innamincka Hotel (SA), Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre (TAS), and the Temora Aviation Museum (NSW) to take out the award in the heritage and cultural tourism category.

“This award is testament to the dedication of staff and volunteers, as well as those at the adjacent Queensland Rail workshops,” Ms Nolan said.

“Each and every one involved in the museum is a winner.”

The Australian Tourism Awards are the most prestigious tourism event in the country and showcase the wealth of fantastic tourism product Australia has to offer.

“Local, state and national tourism awards are a great tool to help operators improve their business,” Ms Nolan said.

“In these tough economic times, every bit of promotion helps our tourism industry and money cannot buy this sort of publicity for The Workshops Rail Museum.”

Set at the birthplace of rail in Queensland, The Workshops Rail Museum features 15 hands-on exhibitions for visitors to explore.

The exhibits include historic carriages, a model railway, stories about the future of rail, and treasures such as the Vice-Regal carriage and Australia’s oldest working steam locomotive.

Visitors also get to meet some true Aussie characters when they step into a real heritage railway workshop and see it in operation.

The Workshops Rail Museum is part of the Queensland Museum. For more information visit www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au or call 07 3432 5100.