A ONE-of-a-kind heritage open day at Denman on February 3 will offer the opportunity to admire an incredibly vast collection of old items.
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Just so we’re clear, we’re talking properly OLD and we’re also talking many, MANY items – it’s a breathtaking display simply for its breadth of history.
The display encompasses a “man-trap” and a ball and chain from the convict days; the town’s first bucket-filled fire pump made by Shand Mason of London; a rebuilt 1906 Darracq and a 1958 Goggomobile; shearing implements and an old shearing press from Gundy; old irons, thimbles and station engines; a 100-year-old Yoss typewriter; Cyclops pedal cars; farm tools in their “working clothes”; a gas mask from World War Two and even an exercise bike built by the famous boxer, Les Darcy.
Denman and District Heritage Village (DDHV) coordinator Catherine Reddish has been working with collector and DDHV president Jeff Wolfgang and the members of the Denman Men’s Shed, who double as members of the DDHV.
“We only started filling this shed six months ago,” Catherine said.
“And it’s full.
“We tried to put a little bit of everything in here to cover everyone’s interests.”
The collection even includes the very first cricket bat, ball and stumps owned by Denman Cricket Club.
Cricket wasn’t played during the Second World War and the items were donated to Jeff much later by the Harris brothers, Bob, Dick, Ken, Bill and Mick.
The items are all from Mr Wolfgang’s incredibly varied and massive collection and have been placed in a 16-metre by 12m shed adjacent to the Denman Men’s Shed.
The aim is to show the wider community what has been put on display with plans to build a much larger shed to house more of Jeff’s collection, once the necessary funds have been sourced.
The Denman Men’s Shed has about 30 members and opens Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 3pm and members can also open the DDHV by appointment.
The Men’s Shed has a woodwork room and a welding room and has also supplied about 700 nesting boxes for rehabilitation sites at local mines.
The Denman and District Men’s Shed and Denman and District Heritage Village Open Day will run from 10am to 2pm on February 3 and refreshments will be available in the Men’s Shed’s air-conditioned lunch room.
To find the DDHV display, simply enter the football grounds near the Denman swimming pool and turn right.
