ACHS - Cart-Wheels

09/08/2026

For over a decade I've been wondering about Tom. One day in 2006 Graham Bartholomew, "Bart" to everyone, showed me old Tom's horse shoes at the Mt Kembla Public

09/08/2026

08/08/2026

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08/08/2026

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07/08/2026

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WAYVILLE - 1948

Don the Wonder Horse performs at the Royal Show in 1948; the block on which he stands is eight inches (200mm) in diameter.

Don the Wonder Horse was a famous performing thoroughbred trained by Queensland mounted constable Reg Tapsell in the 1940s. After failing as a racehorse, Don was bought for £3 and became a star attraction at major agricultural exhibitions like the Royal Adelaide Show and Melbourne Royal Show.

Training and Tricks
Smart mind: Reg Tapsell trained Don in just four months after seeing his high intelligence.
Balance act: Don could stand and balance with all four hooves on a small wooden block just 20 cm (8 inches) wide.
Stage stunts: He could walk a plank, kneel and walk on his knees, and lie down as if dead.
Clever acts: Don could untie knots to remove bandages from his legs and even push a child's pram.

Reimagined scene, enhanced using a combination of Ai tools and hand editing/colouring. Inspired by an original image, info and date from State Library of South Australia B 70391.

Click on the photo to see the original in the comments section.

06/08/2026

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New Arrival at the Museum.

The Museum is proud to welcome an exciting new exhibit to our collection.

On long-term loan from John and Chris Read (pictured), this beautifully restored Sorell to Swansea horse-drawn carriage represents one of the finest surviving examples of Tasmania’s earliest transport heritage.

Built in 1859–60 by Triabunna blacksmith Les Robinson, the carriage operated on the Sorell to Swansea route for more than 60 years, carrying passengers until the arrival of the first motor buses in the mid-1920s.

John and Chris began the painstaking restoration of this remarkable carriage in 2000, dedicating years of craftsmanship to returning it to its former glory. With only a few finishing touches remaining, it stands as a testament to their incredible commitment to preserving Tasmania’s transport history.

In the coming months, the display will be further enhanced with interpretive information boards and, perhaps, even a pair of life-sized fibreglass horses to help bring this important chapter of our state’s history to life.

We extend our sincere thanks to John and Chris Read for generously entrusting the Museum with this extraordinary piece of Tasmania’s transport heritage. We look forward to sharing it with our visitors for many years to come.

Be sure to stop by and see this magnificent new addition on your next visit!

03/08/2026

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