Southland’s Agricultural Roots Preserved in Thornbury Vintage Tractor Club’s New Exhibit

The Thornbury Vintage Tractor & Implement Club celebrated a significant milestone on Saturday, 17 February, with the official opening of its latest addition to their Rural Heritage Centre in Thornbury.

The event was graced by the presence of Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds and Southland District Mayor Rob Scott, who came together to unveil the new display that showcases the history and development of farming in Southland, a region synonymous with the genesis of farming in the province. The club’s facility is notably sited on a portion of land that was part of the first farm in Southland, originally developed by Captain Howell.

A highlight of the Rural Heritage Centre is the Steam Shed, which houses a rare 118hp superheated Garrett Steam Engine, one of only three remaining in the world and the sole operational unit. This engine, historically used in various industries including grain and seed processing, gold mining, and sawmilling, represents a significant piece of industrial heritage.

The newly opened display offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of Southland’s agricultural past, covering an array of aspects such as the shearing shed, freezing works, the Port of Bluff, Stock and Station Agents, fencing, sheep farming, animal health, rabbits, drainage, surveyors, early settlers, and the clearing of bushland. Visitors to the display are treated to a rich collection of items and artefacts, alongside information panels scripted by John Gordon, the late host of A Dog’s Show, who penned these narratives for the exhibits before his passing in 2022.

This vibrant and informative display provides a thorough record of the agricultural foundations upon which the province was built. It complements existing exhibits of machinery, trucks, farm machinery, and implements that together form a comprehensive repository of items key to Southland’s farming heritage.

Among the treasures is a plough built in Southland that was later used in Christchurch to prepare the land for QEII Park for the 1974 Commonwealth Games, and a gas engine that powered the generator for Invercargill’s Civic Theatre. The club, with its forty members, has managed to curate an array of exhibits that continuously pique the interest of visitors, marking a remarkable achievement.

The official opening on Saturday was an invitation-only event, followed by a Locals Day on Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm, allowing the community to explore and celebrate the club’s latest contribution to preserving the region’s agricultural heritage.