The 40th Queensland Heritage Awards were presented by Governor Paul de Jersey AC at the heritage-listed Old Government House in the Queensland University of Technology gardens recently.

The museum is one of five category winners, honoured for excellence in ‘Interpretation and Promotion’.

The Gold Award specifically recognises a major upgrade to the museum this year.

The new exhibits employ a range of up-to-date, screen-based display technologies, including interactive touchscreen kiosks, a user-operated micro-cinema showing six historic movies, and a re-creation of a lantern slideshow using digital technology.

While the museum is owned and managed by Cloncurry Shire Council, the Friends of John Flynn Place are recognised as the driving force behind the centre’s revamp.

Christine McDonald, who is the secretary of the organisation, said they “were absolutely over the moon” to see the museum recognised by the National Trust.

"It's very pleasing for John Flynn Place to be recognised with this award,” Mrs McDonald said.

John Flynn Place opened in 1988 to commemorate the early history of the Royal Flying Doctor Service which began in Cloncurry.

"In the 1920s Reverend Flynn promoted newly-emerging technologies like radio and aviation to build the Flying Doctor Service,” Mrs McDonald explained.

“He took photographs and presented slideshows to gather support and funding.”

Increasing display interactivity was a priority to ensure the museum maintains widespread appeal; the contemporary technology used to tell the stories “very much keeping with Flynn’s vision”, Ms McDonald said.

“The story is all there written down on storyboards, but sometimes people are tired of reading and they need it to be made easier,” she said.

“Touch screens seem to be very in vogue these days and I think that does seem to attract people.”

Mrs McDonald said visitor numbers had increased substantially since the upgraded museum was officially opened by Tim Fisher AC on April 15.