By Charlotte Stanes, on 18-Jun-2016

The quirky old Copping Colonial & Convict Museum, along the road to Port Arthur in Tasmania, is closing its doors after almost 70 years.  The museum was first established in the 1950s by Jack Smith, as a side-interest to his service station operating next door.  ‘Scavenger Jack’ as he was locally known, was an eccentric and opportunistic collector who sourced many items of historical importance from local property owners at a time when convict memorabilia was not as widely collected and valued as it is today.

 

Among the items to be auctioned on site in Tasmania in the sale of the contents of The Copping Colonial & Convict Museum Collection on Saturday 25 June by Gowans Auctions, are many having their origins in the Port Arthur penal settlement, including, a huge 'man trap' (above), as well as leg irons and various other tools of punishment and labour used on and by our hapless colonial captives.

Among the items to be auctioned on site in Tasmania in the sale of the contents of The Copping Colonial & Convict Museum Collection on Saturday 25 June by Gowans Auctions, are many having their origins in the Port Arthur penal settlement, including, a huge 'man trap' (above), as well as leg irons and various other tools of punishment and labour used on and by our hapless colonial captives.

He also amassed an impressive treasure-trove of garagenalia and other oddities and his museum became a popular pit-stop for tourists on their way to the historic Port Arthur site.  

The collection, which will be auctioned on-site on Saturday 25 June, includes many items that rarely come onto the market.  Many have their origins in the Port Arthur penal settlement, including two original steel cell door panels and a large ‘powder magazine’ door lock, a huge ‘man trap’ (think of a rabbit trap, but man-sized), leg irons and various other tools of punishment and labour used on and by our hapless colonial captives.

Though the museum has changed hands several times over the years, it is remarkable that the collection has remained largely intact.  Such an extensive collection of memorabilia, relating to the convict era and early settlement of Southern Tasmania, is not likely to appear on the market again for some time.

The Copping Colonial & Convict Museum Collection will be auctioned by Gowans Auctions on Saturday 25 June at 10am.

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About The Author

Charlotte Stanes has worked the Australian auction industry from the ground up, starting in 1998 as an auction assistant at Christie’s before moving into marketing management at Bonhams & Goodman, Sotheby’s Australia and most recently at Mossgreen. Charlotte is now a marketing consultant and writer, based in Melbourne.