Built by brothers Charlie and Ron Cooper in 1962-63, the workshop quickly became a centre of innovation and local industry, with Charlie leading the engineering and Ron the mechanical work. When Noel Mallows joined the business in 1965, Cooper Bros. and Mallows was born - marking the beginning of an important chapter in Goorambat's history.
A highlight for visitors is the much-travelled tractor now proudly on display in town. Built in the USA, it arrived in Melbourne in 1964-65 before continuing its journey by train to Goorambat. It was unloaded using a special gantry built for VIC Rail, part of a major delivery of tractors and machinery that helped shape the district's farming future. This remarkable journey adds another layer of character to an already captivating local story.
Purchased in the mid-1960s by Colin Davis, the tractor later travelled all the way to Esperance in Western Australia. Years later, Colin returned to his hometown of Goorambat with the tractor in tow, bringing this treasured piece of history home. Now permanently housed in Goorambat, it invites visitors to step back in time and connect with the people, machinery and stories that helped shape the region. For history lovers, heritage enthusiasts, it's a stop well worth making.
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