KERANG Historical Society was formed in 1963.
Six years later, the then Borough of Kerang purchased the Shelley home in what is now known as Museum Drive, adjacent to the rear of the town’s lawn tennis club, for the purpose of housing a museum.
The home was build in the late 1800s by A.G. Shelley, brother-in-law of prominent pioneer settler, Woodford Patchell. The house was also used as a bush nursing home and hospital and later as a home.
The museum houses thousands of exhibits, including Woodford Patchell’s irrigation work from 1803. He was the founder of modern Kerang in 1858 and is believed to be the first practical irrigator in Victoria.
The original Reedy Lake homestead is also houses inside one of the sheds. It was relocated from its original site and now contains a large collection of wartime memorabilia.
Much of the collection has been donated by local people. These items include honour boards from surrounding districts, farm machinery, including harvesters and tractors, steam engines, household items and furniture, to name but a few categories of exhibits.
Museum members have been working tirelessly to ensure all these items are well preserved so that future generations can be aware of our local history.
One such machine currently being restored is a Titan 10-20 tractor. These tractors were manufactured by International Harvester in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, starting in 1915 and ceasing production in 1922.
During the Great War between 1914 and 1918, the British Government purchased 3000 of these tractors and placed them on farms to increase production. At the end of the war, farmers were offered the option of purchasing the tractors at a reduced price.
This tractor has a local connection. As well as other farm duties, it drove a pump that was used to irrigate two farms in the Koroop area, being the properties of “Mayfield”, owned by R.M. (Ray) Hall and “Heatherleigh”, owned by D.J. (Dave) Smith, using water from the Pyramid Creek.
The Titan 10-20 was donated to the museum by the Smith family. Damage was quite extensive after being stationary for long periods of time, requiring a large amount of restoration, with all the parts being manufactured by local museum members. The tractor has been driven along the museum track, but still needs some more work, plus a total repaint.
Members gather at the museum every Monday morning. Anyone who would like to help in any way would be most welcome and donations of any item that would be of relevance to the area and history is always appreciated.
The museum is open on Sundays between 1.30pm and 4.30pm or by appointment.
Kerang Historical Society meets on the fourth Monday of every month. The next meeting is on Monday, February 22, at 7.30pm in the museum meeting room. This will be the annual meeting. New members or anyone interested to hear what the members are doing are welcome to attend.
