The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) is pleased to announce the next chapter for its historic carriage collection, with a number of carriages soon to be relocated from storage and conservation works in Beechworth to National Trust properties across Victoria where they can be seen, appreciated and interpreted by diverse Victoria wide audiences.
Several of the carriages currently stored and maintained in Beechworth, have no provenance or connection to the Indigo Shire region. These will be relocated to National Trust properties where their significance can be celebrated and connections to our places explored and highlighted. These carriages will be presented across multiple heritage sites, allowing the collection to be displayed in environments that allow visitors to better understand not only the craftsmanship of the carriages themselves, but also the social, agricultural and transport histories they represent. From grand estates to working heritage farms, each placement has been carefully considered to enhance storytelling, context and public access.
Sites such as Rippon Lea Estate will introduce the collection to large annual audiences, while properties including Gulf Station and Mooramong offer rich farm and rural settings that reflect how many of these vehicles were originally used. Other sites, including The Heights Heritage Home and Barwon Park Mansion, will integrate the carriages into broader narratives of transport, status and everyday life.
All carriages will be cared for in line with best-practice collections management. They will be supported by trained National Trust volunteers, with ongoing guidance from the Trust's collections and conservation team. Interpretation at each site will explore manufacture, design, prior use and the ongoing work required to conserve these rare vehicles for future generations.
The National Trust has developed a comprehensive Collections Management Approach for our entire carriage collection, including the carriages in Beechworth. Viewing the entirety of our carriage collection holistically, has enabled us to identify positive outcomes to enrich public access and engagement, and greatly improve the long-term preservation of the carriages
The National Trust continues to work collaboratively with our partners and stakeholders to ensure the entire carriage collection is placed in relevant, meaningful and publicly accessible settings for the benefit of communities across Victoria.
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Collette Brennan, CEO of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), said this stage marks a significant milestone and improvement in the long-term care and activation of the National Trust's carriage collection.
"These carriages are powerful touchstones of daily life, lost trades, craftsmanship, and community spirit. This new phase will ensure they are shared more widely throughout Victoria and preserved for many years to come."
Indigo Shire CEO Trevor Ierino said the Council welcomes the National Trust's decision to share the collection with communities across Victoria.
"We know some in our community feel a deep connection to the carriages and had hoped they could remain in the Shire. We appreciate that sentiment. However, Council is not the custodian of this collection and despite exploring every option, we simply don't have the facilities, the specialist conservation expertise, or the financial resources to take on that role. Knowing the carriages will be properly displayed and cared for at heritage properties is a positive outcome for both the collection and the public."
