It has been 30 years in the planning, but construction is finally due to begin on a big steel sculpture in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt paying homage to the state’s first locally manufactured tractor, the Chamberlain 40K.
Key points:
- The sculpture is based on WA’s first locally manufactured tractor the Chamberlain 40K
- It will be located at Carnamah, a farming town just under 300km from Perth
- It will be made of 36 tonnes of steel and reach 11 metres high
The Carnamah Big Tractor Project is headed by Brendan Haeusler, who said he was “bloody stoked” after raising more than $500,000 to build the monument.
They still need another $100,000 to complete the project, but have enough in the fundraising account to order the 36 tonnes of steel and launch the building works.
“It has been a long process,” he said.
“There’s times we could have said “it was too hard”, but it’s definitely worth persevering with.”
Decades in the making
The idea originated with the vintage tractor collectors’ association Tracmach more than 20 years ago.
Choosing where and what to build slowed the process after a plan to build a sculpture in Gnowangerup was abandoned.
Trachmach president John Piavanini said it was decided that Carnamah would house the giant Chamberlain to pay homage to WA’s own tractor.
“It’s a replica of the Chamberlain 40K, which is the first ever Chamberlain built in Western Australia,” he said.
“That’s the reason this came up, to keep the Chamberlain history in Western Australia. So that’s probably the foundations of this project.
“It does make perfect sense for this giant Chamberlain to be built in Carnamah, tying-in with Hal Walton’s dedicated John Deere museum.”
That museum was established by a former machinery dealer and houses more than 70 restored models including a number of Chamberlains.
The new structure will be 11.5 metres high, 16m long, and 8.5m wide, made of 36 tonnes of steel.
‘Generosity’ brings dream to reality
Mr Haeusler said it was very rewarding to get the project to the construction stage after three years of fundraising.
Farmers from across the state chipped in to help bring the idea to fruition.
“Raising half a million dollars isn’t that simple,” he said.
“It turns out, without grants, we’ve managed to get the funds together just by the generosity of the people.
“It’s satisfying that we’ve been able to raise the funds without that [state government grants].”
Mr Piavanini hoped the record-breaking structure would be ready by early next year.
“No firm commitments — because tradespeople are short and everyone’s busy — but they’re quite confident they can get it in 14-16 weeks,” he said.
“Hopefully it will be built here in Geraldton, shifted to Carnamah and be assembled in February.”
Mr Hausler said he hoped the giant structure would tourists along with it.
“There is a lot to see in the north midlands,” he said.
“[It’ll] get people off the costal route as well, bring people inland, and create a lot of interest for national, international, and local tourists to come to the region.”
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