STORIES FROM THE ROAD MUSEUM

STORIES FROM THE ROAD MUSEUM STORIES FROM THE ROAD MUSEUM, a road transport hub dedicated to the trials & tribulations of the Peo
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Born of blood sweat and tears, hard work, ingenuity and sheer determination Australia's road transport pioneers and the vehicles they drove are not often given their rightful place in history and sit on the fringes of other industries. STORIES FROM THE ROAD Museum houses a great collection of trucks and buses from yesteryear as well as our WALL OF LEGENDS which features the stories of some of our

transport pioneers of the past. There is literally something for all the family to see, So call in to Port Pirie on your way around this great land of ours and say hi.

So Here it isOur much awaited, long anticipated *Volunteer Calendar* is finally at the printer. This is the fourth in a ...
10/08/2025

So Here it is
Our much awaited, long anticipated *Volunteer Calendar* is finally at the printer. This is the fourth in a series over 20 years. It should have been for 2025 but we cancelled it when David passed. Better late than never they say. What is a few more wrinkles among friends anyways!

We had a lot of fun and a few serious laughs making this. I just wish we had a few more months in the year as we literally had to chase away willing and half naked participants with a big stick. Seems everyone wanted to get naked in the bitter cold!

The calendars are $30 including post and handling. There’s a donation of $1 per calendar to the CFS and nett proceeds will be divided up between the volunteers to help fund their pet projects.
Special thanks goes to the volunteers who helped. You’ll recognise a few ‘old’ faces in here from previous calendars and meet a few new ones whom are now an integral part of what we do.

Shane Pearce, Royce Norton, John Veenvliet, Graham and Sue Gibbons, Bill Pusey, Murray Dyer, Annette and Greg Whitford, Shirley and Popeye Solomon, Sandra Mason, Julie Jamieson, Donna Barbaresco, Wayne and Lynn Ellard and Irene Strang
You mob are more than just volunteers, you are family

20/05/2025

Explore the history written in stone, steel, and streetscapes. On Port Pirie’s self-guided history walk, uncover the moments where decisions—big and small—left a lasting mark. Pick up your guide at the Visitor Information Centre or access the interactive map here: https://bit.ly/3GEhSi5and start exploring today.

Pictured: Port Pirie Post Office

South Australia's History Festival
Port Pirie Regional Council

Hi all, an update on the Power Giant - been a huge week of rewiring. Waiting for the roof lights to arrive but had to se...
26/04/2025

Hi all, an update on the Power Giant - been a huge week of rewiring. Waiting for the roof lights to arrive but had to see how she looks at night. Well I'm really happy. I know it's not authentic but hey she looks good, next week identification inspection and 🤞then rego . Hopefully

* New Stock! Just arrived in time for Xmas **BOOK: NEW $30 incl. EXPRESS POST. Thirty Years With MenBy Harry Ding with t...
14/12/2024

* New Stock! Just arrived in time for Xmas **

BOOK: NEW $30 incl. EXPRESS POST.

Thirty Years With Men
By Harry Ding with the assistance of the Walcha Rotary Cub, the Ding Family and Mr Fred Teague.

DESCRIPTION
***************
Henry Edgar (Harry) Ding
1907 - 1976

Recollections of the pioneering years of transportation in the inland deserts of outback Australia.

This book highlights the memoirs of a man who, starting with a horse and cart, went on to pioneer a reliable and efficient outback transport service that included the Birdsville mail run for over 12 years.

A man whose work with Alfred Traeger of pedal radio fame, enabled contact to be maintained with his trucks from abase station in Yunta SA.

When United with the Flying Doctor bases in Cloncurry Qld and Wyndham WA, made a safety triangle linking the interior of Australia.

Harry Ding was also a pioneer in the movement if livestock by road.

PAYMENT
***********
Direct Deposit to ANZ Account EA Martin
T/A Stories Museum
BSB: 015881
ACCT: 296561439
OR
You can post Cheque or Money Order PO Box 665, Port Pirie,
SA, 5540
OR
Text 0429 201 549
OR
email
[email protected] with
Credit Card details.

1. PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH!!!
2. ALWAYS INCLUDE AN ADDRESS
3. USE YOUR NAME AS REFERENCE

* New Stock! Just arrived in time for Xmas **BOOK: NEW $50 incl. EXPRESS POST. SON OF THE RED CENTREBy Kurt Johannsen an...
14/12/2024

* New Stock! Just arrived in time for Xmas **

BOOK: NEW $50 incl. EXPRESS POST.

SON OF THE RED CENTRE
By Kurt Johannsen and Edited by his partner Daphne Palmer

DESCRIPTION
***************
The Memoirs and Anecdotes of the Life of Roadtrain Pioneer and Bush Inventor of the Northern Territory.

MINER, INVENTOR. AVIATOR AND MECHANIC EXTRAORDINAIRE

Few men have a life as diversified as that of pioneer Kurt Johannsen. Born at Deep Well (NT) in 1915 Kurt is a true Son of the Red Centre. He acquired his driving license at 11 and by the time he was 15 was driving his own truck carting night soil. Kurt's career spanned that of labourer, fencing contractor, mailman, aviator and inventor but his greatest achievement is his adaptation of the self tracking trailer and development of the world's first successful commercial roadtrain cattle haulage operation.

Utilising a Diamond T 980 (Ex U5 ARMY issue) and Bren Gun carriers Kurt built a roadtrain the likes of which had never been seen before. The bureaucrats questioned his sanity and property owners scoffed at the idea - but Kurt persevered and was soon putting the drovers out of work. He lengthened the chassis on the truck and fitted it with a crate, and then built three trailers using ex-US Army bren gun carriers.

Kurt used the principal of the self tracking mechanisms on the AEC roadtrain to develop his simpler but more effective version on his own trailers. Self tracking meant the trailers could follow exactly in the tracks of the prime-mover and this was necessary in the virgin scrublands that Kurt worked.

The main disadvantage was, that if you staked a drive tyre, you were highly likely to stake several others down that side of the roadtrain! The trailers were to travel an incredible 2,000,000 miles before they finally retired.

Kurt was described by the NT Department of works as a
"Bush engineer with a stroke of genius."

Soft Cover, 250 pages,

PAYMENT
***********
Direct Deposit to ANZ Account name EA Martin
BSB: 015 881
ACCT: 29656 1439
OR
You can post Cheque or Money Order PO Box 665, Port Pirie,
SA, 5540
OR
Text 0429 201 549 or email
[email protected] with
Credit Card details.

1. PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH!!!
2. ALWAYS INCLUDE AN ADDRESS
3. USE YOUR NAME AS REFERENCE

AUSTRALIA’S ROAD TRANSPORT HERITAGE  by Liz Martin OAM$65.00 inc post*****************Four years in the making this book...
29/11/2024

AUSTRALIA’S ROAD TRANSPORT HERITAGE by Liz Martin OAM
$65.00 inc post
*****************
Four years in the making this book is an absolute must for any transport enthusiast. The ideal present for the truckie in your life or any-one with an interest in road transport.

This high quality coffee table book is full colour, features a hard cover and dust jacket with 450 pages of history including over 500 YES, OVER 500 A to Z listings of marques that made their impression in Australia.

PAYMENT
***********
Direct Deposit to ANZ Account name EA Martin
BSB: 015 881
ACCT: 29656 1439
OR
You can post Cheque or Money Order PO Box 665, Port Pirie,
SA, 5540
OR
Call 0429201549 with card details.

BOOK: NEW. $40 incl PostageFIRST CUSTOM BUILT TRUCKS FOR AUSTRALIA by Ed Cameron(The Kenworth Story in Australia)DESCRIP...
15/11/2024

BOOK: NEW. $40 incl Postage
FIRST CUSTOM BUILT TRUCKS FOR AUSTRALIA by Ed Cameron
(The Kenworth Story in Australia)

DESCRIPTION
***************
The Year 2022 marked the 60th anniversary since the first custom built trucks were imported into Australia. To celebrate this legendary pioneer we are selling our last few of the late Ed Cameron's great book.

Written by world renown trucking pioneer, Ed Cameron, this is the story of how, frustrated with both the European and British trucks of the 1940s, Ed and his associates / friends George Blomfeild and Jack Bateman went looking for something better in the USA.

They found the solution for their tranSport needs through importing the very first S Kenworths into Australia.

This book really is a must for any trucking enthusiast. Make it a birthday gift or even an early Christmas present.
Soft Cover - including Post $40

PAYMENT
***********
Direct Deposit to ANZ NAME: EA Martin
BSB: 015 881
ACCT: 29656 1439
OR
You can post Cheque or Money Order PO Box 665, Port Pirie,
SA, 5540
OR
Call 0429201549
OR
email
[email protected] with
Credit Card details.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH!!!!

BOOKS ************The Noel Buntine Story  by Lorraine Day $45 Inc Post Memoirs of a Mule by Bill (Mule) Francis $45 Inc ...
10/11/2024

BOOKS
************
The Noel Buntine Story by Lorraine Day $45 Inc Post
Memoirs of a Mule by Bill (Mule) Francis $45 Inc Post
T***s (in a mans world) by Donna Vawdrey $45 Inc Post
My Territory My Life by Liz Martin $35 Inc Post
PAYMENT
*****************
Direct Deposit to ANZ Account name EA Martin
BSB: 015 881 ACCT: 29656 1439
OR
You can post Cheque or Money Order to
Stories Museum, PO Box 665, Port Pirie, SA, 5540
OR
Text 0429201549 or email [email protected] with Credit Card details.
1. PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH!!!
2. ALWAYS INCLUDE AN ADDRESS 3. USE YOUR NAME AS REFERENCE

Address

196 Warnertown Road
Solomontown, SA
5540

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 5pm
Tuesday 11am - 5pm
Wednesday 11am - 5pm
Thursday 11am - 5pm
Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+61429201549

Website

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