Kingaroy Museum Peanut Thresher Restoration
Council will soon commence the restoration of the historic peanut thresher currently located at Kingaroy's fascinating Heritage Museum and housed in what was the town's power house from 1925 to 1952 - and is now part of the Kingaroy Information, Art and Heritage Precinct.
The history of the local peanut industry is a main focus of the collection, with exhibits of agricultural machinery showing the ingenuity and inventiveness of the local farmers and tradespeople. Machinery for farming peanuts was not available in the early 1920s, so farmers invented their own. The first being a bicycle powered thresher built in 1909, then an American-made wheat thresher was converted by a local farmer to thresh peanuts. In the late 1920s Mr Harry Young designed and built his very own dinosaur - a stationary peanut thresher. These machines are on display in the museum along with other prototypes of peanut harvesting machinery designed and built by local inventors. Some of their ideas are still in use today.
To progress the restoration, Council will be moving the Peanut Thresher to South Burnett Woodcrafters located in King St, Kingaroy.
The restoration, funded through Council’s 2019-20 Operational Budget is anticipated to take several months, upon which the thresher will be returned to its current location.
Notice of Temporary Road Closure/Restricted Property Access – Kingaroy
Council advises that in accordance with provision under the Local Government Act 2009, Part 3: Division 1, Roads
69 (2) The Local Government may close a road to all traffic or particular class –
(c) if it is necessary or desirable to close the road for a temporary purpose
The following road closure will take place for the Kingaroy Museum Peanut Thresher Restoration from 10am Tuesday 10 March 2020 through to 12pm (noon) Tuesday 10 March 2020.
The following roads will be affected:
- Vehicle Access - Edward St, Kingaroy (between Mary St & Albert St)
- Pedestrian Access – on Edward St, Kingaroy (between Mary St & Albert St)
- Detour via – Mary St/Doonkuna St/Albert St, Kingaroy
Council apologises for any inconvenience that these closures may cause, and thanks you in advance for your patience and cooperation during this period to ensure the restoration work to the historical Peanut Thresher proceeds smoothly.
Prior to the road closure any enquiries can be made to South Burnett Regional Council’s Infrastructure Department on 4189 9100 or email Council.
During the road closure, please direct any enquiries to the supervising South Burnett Regional Council team member on 0455 936 335.
Image: Map displaying road closure and detours
