Wantok Place to close

Wantok Place – the LCANZ’s museum of Papua New Guinea (PNG) artefacts – will officially close its doors for the last time tomorrow (Wednesday 29 April 2026). A rite of closing will be held at 2pm at the museum’s 175A Archer Street, North Adelaide site.

Established in 2019 in the eastern wing of the LLL building in North Adelaide, Wantok Place was previously known as the Louise Flierl Mission Museum – the latter being founded in 1998 in Hahndorf by Christel Metzner. Across its nearly 30-year history, the museum has served as a significant repository for artefacts and stories from the LCA’s international mission service, especially in PNG.

The LCA’s Assistant to the Bishop for International Mission, Pastor Mark Schultz, said the decision to close Wantok Place had ‘not been an easy one’ and was made after ‘careful consideration’.

‘Reduced visitor numbers since the LCA’s move from North Adelaide to the Adelaide CBD, an ageing volunteer base and the LLL’s imminent need for additional space for a planned expansion, have converged to make this the right time,’ Pastor Mark said. ‘We are extremely grateful for the LLL’s generous support over the past seven years in providing the museum’s current space.’

Housing approximately 1,500 artefacts, the Wantok Place collection comprises items given to or acquired by Australian Lutheran missionaries and lay people working in PNG since 1886. The future of these artefacts is yet to be finalised, Pastor Mark said.

‘We hope some items will find a home in our new LCANZ Church House in Frome Street, and we are investigating other areas where items might be displayed as a reminder of the power of the gospel to transform lives and the ongoing partnership we share with our churches in PNG and South-East Asia,’ he said. Items not selected for display will be carefully and securely stored to ensure their preservation.

Pastor Mark extended special thanks to Wantok Place Manager Timothy Pietsch and the team of volunteers, most of whom are former missionaries, for their ‘unwavering commitment and selfless service’ to the museum. ‘We have been so blessed through the generosity of our volunteers, who have faithfully opened the doors, extended hospitality to those who have visited, and shared the story of our church’s mission partnerships overseas, especially in PNG,’ Pastor Mark said. ‘We cannot thank God enough for them.’

Timothy Pietsch said Wantok Place had been ‘a valuable asset for the church, connecting the LCANZ and the public with the story of Lutheran mission work in PNG, as well as displaying beautiful tribal artefacts, many of them culturally significant’.

‘It has also been an important drop-in place for mission families who served in PNG and other South-East Asian countries, for visitors from PNG and beyond, and for the museum community,’ Timothy said. ‘My thanks go to LCA International Mission for the extraordinary opportunity of setting up and managing this unique museum for the past seven years, and my grateful thanks also go to the dedicated volunteers for their exceptional service.’

If you have any queries relating to the closure of Wantok Place, please contact Pastor Mark Schultz at lcaim@lca.org.au or Timothy Pietsch at timothy.pietsch@lca.org.au