The Kingaroy Heritage Museum is adjoined to the Kingaroy Information Centre. Peanuts are the predominant theme in this museum, with other heritage items from the area.
The machinery from the peanut industry start from early examples adapted from other agriculture equipment, such as a planter originally built as a corn planter and modified to plant peanuts, and wheat threshers converted to thresh peanuts.
In the early 1920’s, machinery was not available specific to the peanut industry. Local farmers invented the equipment needed, some of the designs are still used today.
The distinctive threshers are large pieces of machinery, two of which dominate the floor space inside the museum, and another outside at the entrance in the back street.
The rest of the museum is of various heritage items. There is a small military section and a collection of school items. The Teasmade automated tea maker was a first for me. I found out it was an alarm clock and tea maker in one, making a fresh cup of tea to wake up to in the morning. This electric Teasmade was bought in 1945.
To get there:
From Bunya Hwy (Youngman St) in the township of Kingaroy, turn into Haly St with the brown sign for Museum heading East. The information centre and museum is 350m along Haly St. There is an entry at the rear by taking the next left into King St, where the peanut thresher is outside.
Cost: Free, donation box
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-2pm, Public Holidays 10am-2pm. Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Food Friday, ANZAC Day
Toilets: Yes
Bins: Yes
Tables: No
Seating: No
Water: No
Food: No
Wheelchair accessible: Yes
Pets: No
Playground: No
BBQ: No