Established in 1891, the Western Australian Museum has a long history of curating some of the country's most valuable, culturally relevant artefacts. However, the institution's latest acquisition is raising more eyebrows than most.
That's because, well, it's a really old glory hole.
Carved out of a wooden door, the glory hole was saved from the demolition of an old Perth train station by local man Neil Buckley.
“It’s really an important part of social history and this is how we used to have sex at a time when it [homosexuality] was illegal,” Buckley said of the item, according to Perth Now, explaining that the station was once a popular cruising location.
Buckley donated the historic item to WA Museum's Perth location, believing it to be of historic value.
“We often talk about museums as safe places for unsafe ideas,” Alec Coles, chief executive of WAM, said of the donation.
He added: “Clearly the LGBTQI community is a very important part of Perth’s society.”
However, some aren't so sure the door is appropriate for public display.
Shadow Culture and the Arts Minister Tony Krsticevic labelled the object "tacky".
“While it is appropriate for the WA Museum to chronicle the rich and proud LGBTI community as a significant element in the State’s history, such an object is too tacky for display at what will be such a great new venue,” Krsticevic said.
“I’m not sure it is a suitable exhibit to be seen by school children who will flock to the new WA Museum when it is completed.”
