Hopes garage memorabilia collection will boost rural town tourism

A former truck driver has sold his 200-piece collection of garage memorabilia — which he collected and restored over more than four decades — to a shire in Western Australia's Wheatbelt.

Cooper's Garage Museum, named after WA collector Murray Cooper, has been unveiled in Westonia, 300 kilometres east of Perth.

The museum features restored fuel pumps, signs and pedal cars, all in working order thanks to Mr Cooper's handiwork.

The oldest item dates back to 1902.

The 74-year-old said he began collecting during his years as a truck driver.

"I left school early on in the piece to use my hands and get on with my life, taking up truck driving in the fuel industry, and it gave me that opportunity to get out there and see what was around," Mr Cooper said.

"It was only by chance that I came across these early bowsers when I delivered fuel to a farmer who was still using them.

"He said I could take it away as long as I restored it and sent a photo to him of the finished product."

Mr Cooper, who now lives in the south-west town of Elgin, said he enjoyed the challenge involved in restoration.

"Restoration work can be difficult because a lot of these pumps over the years have been left idle out in the open weather," he said.

"The variety of the pumps I get to work on is part of the challenge.

"Some of the companies had their own patented pumps so that other companies couldn't use them, so finding the right parts to bring them back to life can take some time."

The town of Westonia is home to about 130 people, and in recent years had facades of the main street restored to depict its form in the early 1900s, after gold was discovered in the area.

Mr Cooper said his ties to the Wheatbelt played a role in his decision to sell his collection to the Shire of Westonia.

"I was born in Bruce Rock, and I lived in Nungarin for three years later in life, and always liked the Wheatbelt and the lifestyle," he said.

"Unfortunately, my time here was cut short when I was called up for national service, but it certainly did help me make that final decision to send it up there."

Mr Cooper said he was overwhelmed by the local support shown at the museum's opening.

"I couldn't be more pleased with the effort and time that people have put into it," Mr Cooper said.

"There is a lot of pride in that town, and everything they have done is first class.

A wax figure of Mr Cooper was also unveiled, which will live in Cooper's Garage, honouring his role in establishing the museum.

Shire of Westonia chief executive Bill Price said the collection built on the town's pride in its unique museums.

"We're pretty famous for the Hood-Penn museum, which is a collection of nostalgia and yesteryear items," he said.

"Based on that, we managed to come across a collection by Murray Cooper, and he was very impressed with how we looked after our items here and the museum that we had."

Mr Price said it was an obvious decision to name the garage in Mr Cooper's honour.

"This is a legacy for Murray's work because it's been his life for more than 40 years," Mr Price said.

"The collection is absolutely immaculate.