FROM starting in a house 21 years ago to now having two buildings to showcase items – Cundletown Museum has come a long way.
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Run by the Cundletown and Lower Manning Historical Society, the museum’s newest extension is a $156,000 pavilion, $98,000 of which was raised by the society.
Cundletown and Lower Manning Historical Society president Margaret Love said volunteers put in many eight-hour days to reach this goal.
“I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved,” she said.
The space will be named the Coleman Pavilion, after the substantial contribution and donation made by Bob Coleman of Cundletown to the building.
“He believed in what we were doing,” Margaret said.
“We now have the space to display more larger items, to allow future generations to appreciate our history and early farming history.”
Many of these items will be a trip down memory lane for those in Cundletown in particular and the Manning in general.
Margaret predicts the Peter’s Creameries Truck and Ruff’s Bakery Display will be among the most popular attractions.
The Peter’s truck, on loan from Michael and Jo-anne Barlin, was built in 1941.
Keith Barlin purchased the body from Peters around 1974 and used it as a shed on his property for around 30 years, before selling it to Michael and Jo-anne, who restored it back to its original condition.
The Ruff’s Bakery Display was donated by the late Norm Ritchie, who made one of his last visits to the museum just before his passing.
Ruff’s Bakery originated in Cundletown, before relocating to Taree.
Other interesting items include a door from the exercise yard at the former Cundletown jail.
The next step for the society will be a $60,000 resource centre and carpark, with the group currently seeking grants for both projects.
The official opening will take place on June 4 at 10am.
There will be morning tea, a barbecue by Taree North Rotary Club and an ice cream making display by Kingston Creek Creamery, the old fashioned way with Michael and Jo-Anne Barlin.