AFTER being hidden away on a shed on a property at Lismore for decades, a rare 17th century Chinese wagon has found a new home at Bendigo's Golden Dragon Museum.
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The museum bought the piece at auction, with the purchase sponsored by Diane Findlay and her daughters Stephanie and Victoria Chin, in memory of Diane's husband Kerrin Chin and his grandparents Harry Louey Jack and Gladys Jack (nee Ah Dore).
Golden Dragon Museum manager Anita Jack said the ornate wagon was an artefact from the Qing dynasty.
"It's very unique because it's unique. Most of these have been pulled apart and used as decorative art," she said.
Ms Jack said the wagon would have been built in the mid to late 1600s to cart cargo and people.
It is believed it was brought to Australia during the gold rush in the 1800s and used in market gardens in Lismore.
It wound up in a shed and was left there forgotten until the property was to be sold.
"It was lost; no one knew it was there," Ms Jack said.