Quite the collection: Kyabram Historial Society president Clive Toms (left) helps Richard Syer unload the century-old builders’ tools.
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A collection of century-old woodworking tools has recently gone on display in Frank’s Shed in the historic precinct at Kyabram Fauna Park.
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They were donated to the Kyabram Historical Society — which maintains the precinct — by Shepparton resident Richard Syer.
The tools belonged to Richard’s grandfather, Robert Marven Syer, who spent most of his life working as a carpenter and builder in Shepparton.
He was born at Smithdale, near Ballarat, in 1864.
The historic collection includes wooden block planes, a timber-framed spirit level, tape measure, timber-splitting wedges and a brace-and-bit, as well as a metal shoe last and a pair of hand shears.
“My grandfather died in Shepparton in 1941, before I was born,” Richard said.
“I’ve never used his tools — I just retained them. They’ve been sitting in his toolbox for nearly 100 years.”
Now in the process of downsizing, Richard and his wife, Chris, realised the time had come to re-home the collection.
Looking sharp: Shepparton builder Robert Marven Syer (1864-1941).
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They handed the tools to the Kyabram Historical Society just before Christmas. President Clive Toms spent a few weeks cleaning and polishing the items before they went on public display in Frank’s Shed, aka the Transport Through Time shed, located just behind Hazelman’s Cottage.
On display: Richard Syer of Shepparton proudly surveys his grandfather’s restored woodworking tools in Frank’s Shed at the Kyabram Fauna Park.
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Frank’s Shed is a tribute to long-standing Historical Society member and former Kyabram garage and car-yard owner, the late Frank Tobias, and also houses local market gardener Willie Gee’s fruit and vegetable van, which Frank painstakingly restored.
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