Historic sulky heads home to Marburg
08 November 2021
The community of Marburg will welcome the return of a horse drawn sulky set to be donated by Ipswich City Council.
Manufactured in Marburg about 130 years ago, the sulky has been restored by council and will go on display in the Marburg Heritage Precinct.
Division 4 Councillor Kate Kunzelmann said the sulky held historical significance to the local community.
“We are delighted to be able to donate this wonderful historical item back to Marburg, with the Marburg and District Residents Association taking the reins,” Cr Kunzelmann said.
“There is a builder’s plaque on the back seat showing it had been made in Marburg by the town’s blacksmith Julius Otto Ernst who had migrated from Germany, who was also a skilled coachbuilder.
“The sulky has been restored and is ready to go straight on display in the growing Marburg Heritage Precinct.”
Division 4 Councillor Russell Milligan said the Marburg Sulky will help to bring visitors to Marburg and in turn deliver economic benefits to the wider community.
“Marburg residents have done a great job of turning their town into an ideal day trip destination and with this addition to their very successful heritage precinct, they will be able to show visitors how people got around over a century ago,” Cr Milligan said.
“The sulky was originally owned by the Lane family of Lanefield and the story goes that it was built for Elizabeth Lane to get around and it stayed in the family for generations until 2000 when it was sold to a collector.
“The previous council bought it in 2017 from the Lockrose Heritage Museum and it was later transported to Gympie for restoration in 2019.
“This important artifact, with historical significance, will now be returned to the people of Marburg.”
Marburg and District Residents Association secretary Wendye Gratton said it is happy to have acquired the sulky and to have it back in Marburg where it was made.
“We feel that it is important to preserve our heritage and this sulky, which forms part of our local history, will add more interest to our heritage precinct here in our proud town,” Mrs Gratton said.