Castlemaine Pioneers and Old Residents Association invite community members to be ‘transported’ back in time at their major exhibition at the Castlemaine Town Hall this weekend, October 21 and 23.
‘Transport in the Mt Alexander Shire 1866 to the Present Day’ features a stunning collection of items from the Pioneers and Old Residents collection and private local collections and will be a must see.
After two years of covid disruption and planning the association is thrilled to finally be holding its long-awaited curated exhibition.
Castlemaine Pioneers and Old Residents Association secretary Wilson Bunton told the Mail transport took many forms, from the humble boot worn to help propel gold miners along their way to bullock drays and coaches, bicycles and early cars and buses to today’s modern vehicles – it all played and still plays a major part in the development of the area.
“We will feature a range of vehicles and artefacts from our transport past and a wide array of photographs and memorabilia spanning the last 156 years of transport in the shire,” he said.
The exhibition will range from boots and wheels first introduced to the region by Major Mitchell and the diggers seeking their fortune to early bicycles such as a Penny Farthing and unique tandem bikes through to the latest electric bikes.
“We will have displays featuring everything from the early Co & Co Coaches to early bus services such as the Chewton Motor Service, the Bentley’s Parlour Coach – for which you could book tickets at the former Macafees Café – and Bailey’s Motor Service.
“We will have displays about early trucks and industry in the region right through to displays by Castlemaine Rods and Autoplex Castlemaine,” he said.
“Then there are other forms of transport such as the paddlesteamer rides on Port Phillip Bay which the Pioneers and Old Residents used to coordinate for local residents to experience a trip to the seaside from 1885-1942,” Wilson said.
“At the height of these excursions the pioneers hired three seven carriage trains from Castlemaine to Port Melbourne and return and 2000 men, women and children from Castlemaine enjoyed a day out travelling by train to Melbourne, paddlesteamer to Sorrento Pleasure Gardens and then across to Queenscliff, back to Port Melbourne and return,” he said.
Entry to the unique exhibition will be just $5 Adults. Children Under 16 Free. The exhibition will be open each day from 10am-4pm.