AN unexpected item has been donated to the Manning Valley Historical Society and is on display at Wingham Museum.
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The working model of a sawmill is currently drawing the crowds as it sits temporarily in the window display.
"I don't know where to put it yet," admits curator Terry Tournoff who added that he will definitely find somewhere in the museum.
The model is one of only four ever made by the late Dudley Bertram Timms of Dorrigo. While normally the Wingham Museum specialises in items that have some connection to the Manning Valley, Terry was very keen to accept the model because of the strong timber milling history of the area.
"It is very representative of timber mills that operated up the East Coast," explained Terry.
There are two more housed at Kempsey and Coffs Harbour museums and the location of the fourth is unknown.
After picking up the rustic model from Coffs Harbour Terry and Neil Lewis brought it back to Wingham in a Ute.
The model was restored and renovated last year for the 100th anniversary of the Coffs Harbour Show but has only been displayed once since then.
Previous to this the model has travelled extensively including Townsville to the north and south to Victoria for field days and agricultural shows.
The family of Dudley Timms had identified the Wingham Museum as the most suitable new home for the hand made model.
They feared it would deteriorate in storage but they can rest easy now.
In the capable hands of the Manning Valley Historical Society the model will go on to give a visual insight into how the timber mills operated.
One museum visitor was delighted to see the model which he said looked exactly like the mill he worked in many years ago.
Volunteers Laurie Munro and Neil Lewis have already worked to fix some linkages and tighten belts.
The electric run model is rustic and charming and on display now at Wingham Museum in Farquhar Street.