Lyndon Hardman was almost in tears on Wednesday when the news came in.
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The Australian Transport Museum would be leased 5,000 square metres of land in the new airport industrial precinct for a peppercorn amount of a dollar a day.
Finally, 35 years after he and brother Des Hardman hatched the idea, and 17 years after the transport museum group formed, they will achieve their goal - ‘to create a world class transport museum’ in Armidale.
“I was uptight [at Wednesday’s Council meeting] - almost brought to tears when it was agreed,” Mr Hardman said.
“It’s a very generous offer from our administrator.
“I was very happy and I’m sure our committee will be too.”
The committee met on Thursday to receive the good news.
The project now waits on the completion of the $3 million New England Highway roundabout and an exact lot allocation so they can begin to design the building.
“I’d like to think we will be shovel ready within twelve months,” Mr Hardman said.
The hardman family have donated a block of land which will go to auction next month, to help finance construction.
A portion of that land, to allow access to the block, has also been donated by Council.
“That again shows the faith that Council has in the museum,” Mr hardman said.
The initial building will be 2,000 square metres, enough space for about 100 exhibits.
And the group plans to hold more than just cars too.
“I think we’ve got some very interesting cars in the district,” Mr Hardman said.
“The offers that we have had for cars to display should allow us to change the presentation on a twice yearly basis.
“But we’d also like to include motorcycles, some representation of aircraft, rail or steam engines and probably even the odd horse-drawn hearse.”
Council has also decided to co-locate the original East West Airlines airport terminal with the museum to display aviation memorabilia.
“I was one of their first passengers in an Avro Anson - Armidale to Brisbane,” Mr Hardman said.
We’d also like to include motorcycles, some representation of aircraft, rail or steam engines and probably even the odd horse-drawn hearse
- Lyndon Hardman