The Kingston Museum has a fascinating collection which tells the story of how transport played a key role in the development of Kingston from an isolated settlement of about 140 people in 1860, to a bustling service hub in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
Over the first weekend in January 2024 , Saturday and Sunday 6 and 7, the Kingston Museum will welcome visitors and locals to share the story of how our transport pioneers, using bullocks, horses, and early
motor vehicles, established the links vital to communication and trade.
The town will host a number of vintage cars, trucks and motor bikes, many with historical links to Kingston’s development.
A most exciting addition to the program is replica Cobb and Co.
Stagecoach pulled by four horses, which is very similar to the coaches used in the Meningie to Kingston service.
Operated by retired dairy farmer Rob Fairchild of Mil Lel, it will take passengers on a three kilometre route around the town on both Saturday and Sunday.
The stagecoach is sponsored by the Royal Mail Hotel, which was a drop off point for the original coach.
Visitors are invited to see the museum’s collection, meet our local experts, and hear their first-hand experiences.
On each day at the Museum there will be program of guest presenters keen to meet visitors and show you the gems in the collection.
The presenters will include Alan Jones, co-Author of “South-Eastern Mails”, the story of how the mail was delivered by pack horse and mail coach in the early days of the colony, and Howard Dicker, whose family has provided a freight service between Kingston, Adelaide and Melbourne since the 1930s.
Other locals, the descendants of the bullockies, stagecoach operators, carters and carriers, will be there to tell family stories and answer questions.
Complimentary morning and afternoon refreshments will be available on both days.
The event will be at the Kingston SE National Trust Museum at 23 Cooke St, Kingston S.E from 10am to 4pm.
Look for Kingston S.E. National Trust Museum on Facebook or google ‘‘Discover Kingston SE” for further details and the daily program.
Bookings for the Stagecoach can be made at https:/trybooking.com/CNXPY prior to 9.30 am on each day of the event or purchased at the Museum during the event.
