News

Reprinted with permission of: 
The Australian Transport Museum
 has a new location at the
Armidale Regional Airport industrial precinct

Armidale Regional Council


 Australian Transport Museum a step closer to reality with Regional Planning Panel DA approval

The Australian Transport Museum Limited is one step closer to realising a long held dream of a museum to showcase the region’s transportation heritage with the Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP) approving the development in July.

Once funding is secured the museum will be a marquee tenant within the Armidale Airside Business Park adding to the region’s tourism destinations. Armidale Regional Council has been a supporter of the project leasing land at a peppercorn rate in the business park to the Australian Transport Museum Limited on a ten year lease of $365 annually with a further option for an additional ten years.

Mayor Sam Coupland said the museum’s construction price tag of $6.5m was the next challenge for the committee but was confident they would soon get the job done.

“To get to this significant milestone of an approved development application has been a 10 year labour of love for committee members and I congratulate the team on this significant achievement."

For more information and to view a video of the concept design please visit the Australian Transport Museum website

http://www.australiantransportmuseum.com.au/


Building plans on display at The Armidale Regional Airport

Lyndon Hardman was almost in tears on Wednesday when the news came in.
The Australian Transport Museum would be leased 5,000 square metres of land in the new airport industrial precinct for a peppercorn amount of a dollar a day.
Finally, 35 years after he and brother Des Hardman hatched the idea, and 17 years after the transport museum group formed, they will achieve their goal - ‘to create a world class transport museum’ in Armidale.


“I was uptight [at Wednesday’s Council meeting] - almost brought to tears when it was agreed,” Mr Hardman said.
“It’s a very generous offer from our administrator.
“I was very happy and I’m sure our committee will be too.”
The committee met on Thursday to receive the good news.
The project now waits on the completion of the $3 million New England Highway roundabout and an exact lot allocation so they can begin to design the building.
“I’d like to think we will be shovel ready within twelve months,” Mr Hardman said.
The hardman family have donated a block of land which will go to auction next month, to help finance construction.
A portion of that land, to allow access to the block, has also been donated by Council.
“That again shows the faith that Council has in the museum,” Mr hardman said.
The initial building will be 2,000 square metres, enough space for about 100 exhibits


And the group plans to hold more than just cars too.
“I think we’ve got some very interesting cars in the district,” Mr Hardman said.
“The offers that we have had for cars to display should allow us to change the presentation on a twice yearly basis. 

The Museum Site

The Board is delighted to announce that the Museum has been allocated 5,000m at the new Armidale Airport site which is currently been developed.

Thanks to the Armidale Regional Council.


Now on Show at The Armidale Airport

  Toyota 700 UP10

This vehicle was one of the earliest Toyotas to be sold in Australia
Specifications
Two Cylinder Air Cooled Engine Capacity 697cc Power 36 b.h.p (27Kw)
Transmission Two Speed Toyoglide Automatic. Rear Wheel Drive
Suspension Independent torsion bar front ---Semi elliptic leaf at rear
Dimensions Overall length 3570mm Wheelbase 2130mm Width 1415mm Weight 580kg
Maximum speed 110 k.p.h.
Owned by The Australian Transport Museum

Building Design

A building has been designed about 3,000m
The objective is to construct a purpose built structure that is suitable for the housing, preservation and public display of ground operated transport.  

This concept is presently being developed by professional architects and volunteers from the building industry.

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