A Scammell Mountaineer, originally used on the Snowy Scheme, has returned home. Photo: Cooma Car Club.
Part of the history of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme has been returned to its roots at the Snowy Collection Museum at Adaminaby.
A 1951 Scammell Mountaineer 4WD truck was delivered to the museum on Friday (June 23) after being transported from the Hunter Valley by Leed, one of the Future Generation Joint Venture partners responsible for the construction of Snowy 2.0.
The truck is one of 10 mountaineers used on the scheme as tip trucks and snowploughs.
Snowy Museum president Tim Corkill said the venue was delighted to take receipt of the vehicle.
He said it was an important part of Snowy history and would feature in the heavy equipment on display.
It has spent about 20 years in a paddock after service in a quarry following its Snowy years.
The truck made a triumphant return to Cooma streets on Friday after being on public display at the Snowy Discovery Centre on its arrival.
Now back in Adaminaby, it will receive some TLC before being put on permanent display.
It will join many other impressive vehicles and pieces of equipment the museum has in its collections.
Adaminaby’s Snowy Scheme Museum is a unique collection of memories, equipment and vehicles related to the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme, completed between 1949 and 1974.
It was officially opened by the then-Governor-General Quentin Bryce AM in 2009.
The museum came about due to a 2002 dispersal sale of heavy equipment owned by the Kennedy brothers and used on the scheme.
The sale attracted nationwide attention and spurred some locals to raise enough money to buy some of the equipment.
Frantic activity before the auction saw a committee raise $40,000 from individuals and organisations, which allowed the purchase of eight of the ten items identified as the most historically important.
These eight items were the beginning of a unique collection and the formation of an association known as the Adaminaby Snowy Scheme Collection. The idea for a museum was born.
The Adaminaby Snowy Scheme Collection was incorporated in October 2003.
It comprises three collections:
Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme Historical Collection
This is the museum’s core collection, representing material relating to the design, construction and operation of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme. It is both representative and selective.
Museum Collection
This part of the collection contains material of historical importance, but it does not meet the higher-level criteria required for inclusion in the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Historical Collection.
Archive Collection
The Archive Collection comprises historically important documents, photographs and/or material that supports and assists in the interpretation of material in all other parts of the collection.
The museum is managed by an elected seven-person committee in accordance with the provisions of the association’s constitution.
The museum is open on Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 am – 2 pm, and by appointment.
Bookings can be made by phoning (02) 6454 1643.
The museum is on the Snowy Mountains Highway, Adaminaby, virtually opposite the town’s other tourist icon, the Big Trout.
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