The skeleton of a blue whale, which washed up in Busselton 120 years ago, will take centre stage in Perth’s new museum and West Australians have been given a chance to name it.
The blue whale’s name will be selected by a panel and included in the new museum display.
The exhibit will include information about the skeleton from the time it washed ashore on a beach in Busselton in 1898, to its preparation and transportation to the WA Museum and the ways it has been displayed and adored by millions of visitors.
The whale washed ashore at the mouth of the Vasse River where it remained for three years before it was transported to Perth for display.
During this time the museum’s taxidermist, Otto Lipfert, worked with the help of a local farmer and two Japanese fishermen to remove the flesh from the carcass.
The skeleton was then left on the shore for 12 months to bleach before the 194 bones were individually labelled for reassembly at a later time.
The skeleton was transported by horse-drawn carriage to Busselton Railway station.
From there it was taken to Perth by train where it was reconstructed.
When the Francis Street building, in which it was housed, closed in 2003 due to asbestos and for safety reasons,the skeleton was once again disassembled and moved into storage.
For almost 13 years the skeleton has been under wraps, waiting for its next iteration.
The 24 metre skeleton is considered WA Museum’s favourite object and preparation of the blue whale has been under way for the past two years.
WA Museum conservators have meticulously cleaned, prepared, scanned and weighed each of the bones – with the skull weighing in at close to 800 kilograms.
Culture and Arts minister David Templeman said the blue whale skeleton had a special place in the hearts of Western Australians.
“It is the object that most visitors ask about. It will be a drawcard object that will inspire a new generation of visitors,” he said.
In regards to the naming competition, Mr Templeman joked the whale name wouldn’t have the same fate as a UK research vessel, which was dubbed Boaty McBoatface after it was the most popular suggestion in an online naming poll.
The boat was eventually called the RRS Sir David Attenborough.
“We have already ruled out Whaley McWhale Face, in case anyone was wondering,” he said.
Three weeks ago, Dunsborough resident and passionate environmentalist Ron Glencross spoke at a City of Busselton community access session about the skeleton.
He believed the city should move to acquire the specimen and incorporate it into its own museum or the proposed whale museum at Busselton Jetty.
Unfortunately, Mr Glencross was advised by councillor Ross Paine that the blue whale skeleton had been confirmed as the one object that would return to the new museum within the Perth Cultural Centre.
Ever the optimist, Mr Glencross responded ‘it doesn’t hurt to ask’.
Unfortunately, it seems Mr Glencross’ dream isn’t to be, with specialist skeleton articulation company Cetacea appointed to design the new exciting display.
Cetacea will begin an 18 month process to design and fabricate the frame that will support the four tonne blue whale skeleton, as it is suspended in Hackett Hall in the new museum.
For more information on the exhibit or to name the whale, visit museum.wa.gov.au/bluewhale.
Submissions close on September 6.
