Buoyed by the success of recent fundraising activities, the Australian Road Transport Heritage Centre (ARTHC) plans to open a truck museum in a temporary home at Gundagai, New South Wales, this month.

ARTHC Chairperson Kerry Campbell and his team are assembling a collection of historic trucks and exhibits in a shed at the corner of Tor Street and Jack Moses Avenue, North Gundagai.

The ARTHC has over 100 members and the museum will be staffed by volunteers.

Treasurer Jim Morton says the ARTHC will open the doors of the museum’s temporary home when electricity is connected. An announcement will be made on the museum’s website, arthc.com.au

But Jim says the ARTHC remains determined to build a permanent museum at Middle Street, Gundagai. The committee will continue to raise funds and apply for grants for the $1.5million project.

The ARTHC raised $30,000 with events held at Gundagai over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

A highlight was Sylvia’s Gap Road Run on June 12 which attracted 76 trucks. They travelled a section of the old Hume Highway which is now on private property. Landowners opened their gates, allowing trucks to travel through Sylvia’s Cutting and over Hannah’s Pinch.

The weekend began with the inaugural Gundagai Truck Show on Saturday, June 11. Scott Menz of Wagga Wagga won People’s Choice with his 1988 Kenworth T650. Paul Eccleston won the Vintage Choice section with a 1953 International AR130.

After the truck show, 217 people attended a Hume Highway Reunion Dinner and auction.

Last week the ARTHC accepted a donation of $2780 which was raised by an auction at the Finemore Livestock Transport drivers’ recent reunion at Wagga Wagga.

To donate to the ARTHC’s proposed truck museum, or to become a member of the ARTHC, phone Jim on 0408 441 495 or Daryl Weston on 0427 756 983.