Westonia has added another impressive chapter to its rich history with the opening of Cooper’s Garage, a brand-new museum that perfectly complements the town’s much-loved heritage offering.
Cooper’s Garage Museum is accessed through the main Shire building via the west wing and opposite their well established Hood Penn Museum. Cooper’s Garage feels like a seamless extension of Westonia’s storytelling. From the moment you step inside, it’s as if you’ve walked onto a movie set — every detail carefully curated to transport visitors back in time.
The collection features more than 200 restored pieces of fuel and garage memorabilia, originally owned by former truck driver Murray Cooper. Murray had a keen eye and a lifelong passion for collecting, often spotting pieces during his truck-driving journeys and slowly building an extraordinary collection over many years. Some of the items date back as early as 1902, making them not only visually impressive but historically significant.
With his practical skills and dedication, Murray personally restored many of the pieces, bringing them back to excellent condition. Recognising the importance of preserving this collection, the Shire of Westonia — led by the CEO and supported by the wider team — worked over many months to secure, house and present it in a way that truly does it justice.
As a special tribute, the Shire has created a wax figure of Murray Cooper, honouring his dedication and acknowledging the role he played in making the museum possible. This thoughtful addition also strengthens the connection with the Hood-Penn Museum, where wax figures are already used to bring local history to life.
Westonia continues to drive tourism in a way that is genuinely unique. By telling the story of the town through immersive displays, wax figures and carefully preserved collections, they’ve created something you won’t find anywhere else.
Cooper’s Garage officially opened on Saturday 8 November 2025, alongside the Westonia Christmas Markets. The combined event saw a strong turnout and set the museum off to a fantastic start for visitation.
With such creative storytelling already on display, we can’t wait to see what Westonia adds next.
