Inverell Transport Museum
Inverell, in north western NSW, has a rich motorcycling history, and this history is now celebrated as part of the National Transport Museum. A large section of the museum is devoted to a display by the Inverell Motorcycle Restorers Club, and president Peter Bates takes up the story. “The ‘shed’ in the display is the result of an idea from one of our members, Mick O’Brien, and was generated by my purchase of a 1930s MAC Velocette which was in a very run down condition, having spent most of its retirement under a house in Sydney. The end result was a replica of an old workshop made of corrugated iron and other materials donated from various farms, including old fence palings, weathered planks and rusty hinges. Inside the workshop we installed hidden soft lighting, which tends to highlight the greasy overalls and oily rags. We went to great effort not to disturb dust or cobwebs on some of the donated articles to retain reasonable authenticity. A shingle at the front of the workshop reads, ‘Col Schuman – Motorcycle Mechanic – All Pommie Makes Serviced’. The workshop is a valued addition to the National Transport Museum set amongst an extensive display of motorcycles and motorcycle memorabilia.” Local Terry O’Brien, an A Grade racer from the period and a Velocette man, said Velocettes made an ideal Clubman machine suitable for road racing, scrambles and short circuit racing. “Many notable riders competed on a MAC during their formative years, including Bob Brown, Roy East, Ray Vernon and Tamworth’s Harry Pyne. Assembled properly, a MAC was utterly reliable and relatively cheap to maintain.” The National Transport Musuem is at 11 Rifle Range Road, Inverell and is open every day except Christmas day from 10am to 4pm. For enquiries call (02) 67212270 or see www.nationaltransportmuseum.info