An important piece of Tasmania’s history has been gifted to the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery thanks to the National Cultural Heritage Account.
The vertical gas engine was built by British engineering firm Tangyes and is believed to date back to about 1892.
It is one of only two engines worldwide and is an important icon for Tasmania.
QVMAG director Richard Mulvaney said it is exciting to keep the engine in Launceston as it shows the strength of Tasmania.
“Tasmania was the powerhouse state in 1820’s, 1830’s and 1840’s, you had people investing in infrastructure like this machine to better produce the products that they were [producing],” said Mr Mulvaney.
A northern Tasmanian family has been in ownership of the engine for about 100 years.
QVMAG history curator Jon Addison said the owner was eager to see the engine remain in a public institution.
QVMAG conservator David Thurrowgood said the restoration of the engine will take about a year.
