(Posted 22nd January 2025)
Courtesy of Laura Samoisy / Hello Rodrigues
Photos: Rodrigues Regional Assembly
As preparations for the opening of the Rodrigues Museum, scheduled for Thursday, January 23, 2025, in Baie Lascars, are underway, the assembly of its collections is progressing rapidly. Among the latest donations are the bell from the Stanhope, an English merchant ship that wrecked in 1883, and a model of the former MV Mauritius, an emblem of the island’s socio-economic development. These symbolic pieces will soon join the museum’s exhibitions, which aim to proudly showcase the rich and diverse history of Rodrigues.
The Chief Commissioner, Franceau Aubret Grandcourt, G.O.S.K., officially handed over the Stanhope bell, dating back to 1866, to the Commissioner in charge of Museums, Archives, Historic Sites, and Buildings, Varok Ravina. This ceremony took place on the afternoon of January 17, in the presence of Mr. Vikash Rupear, Director of the Mauritius Museum Council (MMC).
The Stanhope bell, from the English merchant ship that wrecked in 1883 on the reefs south of Rodrigues, was previously kept at La Résidence. It will soon join the collections of the Rodrigues Museum, symbolizing an important aspect of the island’s maritime heritage.
On Monday, January 20, Deputy Chief Commissioner Mr. Johnson Roussety, G.O.S.K., presented a model of the former MV Mauritius to Mr. Varok Ravina, Commissioner for Arts and Culture. This miniature model, donated last year to the DCC by Mr. Tony Driver of Rogers Shipping, will also be displayed at the museum.
The MV Mauritius, which served Rodrigues between the 1950s and 1990s, played a fundamental role in the socio-economic development of the Rodriguan people. This iconic vessel remains a cherished memory for the island’s older generations.
The Rodrigues Museum, set to open its doors in a few days, is part of an ongoing effort to value and preserve the island’s history and heritage. The collections, including emblematic works and objects that trace Rodrigues’ cultural, maritime, and social history, will continue to grow over time.
This inauguration marks a significant milestone in conserving the island’s rich heritage and serves as an invitation to discover or rediscover its fascinating past.
