Four magnificent scale model horse-drawn wagons have recently been donated to the Millicent National Trust Museum.
They were hand-crafted over many years by retired Warrnambool resident Ken Arthur.
He died in February at the age of 77 and it was his dying wish they be gifted to the local museum.
Mr Arthur had spent a day at the museum and its associated restoration workshop some years ago.
It has one of the most outstanding collections of horse-drawn vehicles anywhere in the nation.
Horse-drawn vehicles played a major role in Australia’s formative years and are a rich source of cultural and social information.
In constructing these models of Australia’s yesteryear, Mr Arthur hoped they might help future generations conceptualise our history.
His family has proudly donated the wagons for all generations to enjoy the craftsmanship and to perhaps pique someone’s else’s interest in making such scale models.
They brought the four models to Millicent recently where they were gratefully accepted by Millicent National Trust chairman Barry Long and horse-drawn vehicle curator Peter Foster OAM.
