Along-term plan is needed for the Millicent Museum according to the local branch of the National Trust.
The much-lauded tourism drawcard was opened in 1970 in the buildings which formerly comprised the Millicent Primary School.
The State Government transferred ownership to local government and, in turn, the National Trust has a peppercorn lease with the Wattle Range Council.
Trust chairman Barry Long said the local branch had erected a number of other buildings over the past 53 years.
Mr Long said the National Trust owns buildings like the horse-drawn vehicle pavilions, shipwreck room and machinery shed while the Wattle Range Council owns the former classrooms and headmaster’s house.
“We carry out the maintenance of all the buildings on the site,” Mr Long said.
“Furthermore, we are required to pay the insurance premium on both the council-owned buildings as well as the National Trust buildings.
“This is about $18,000 per annum and this is getting beyond our ability to pay.
“The National Trust in Adelaide certainly does not have large cash reserves.
“The Millicent National Trust branch needs to work with Wattle Range Council on a plan for the museum.”
Branch and State National Trust representatives recently met with senior Wattle Range personnel when some of these matters were canvassed.
The National Trust delegation included Adelaide-based interim chief executive Stuart McNab.
He was in the area for a regional conference of National Trust branches held at the Leake Brothers Woolshed at Glencoe.
Mr Long declined to comment on last month’s decision by Wattle Range Council to change its 2022/23 budget allocation for the Millicent National Trust Museum.
Council had originally earmarked $540,000 to renovate or replace the ageing timber classrooms which house the Helen Hughes Costume Collection and part of the horse-drawn vehicle workshop.
The April council meeting unanimously decided to cut this sum to $250,000 and it became conditional on the National Trust putting up a matching sum.
Comment has been sought from Wattle Range Council.
