John, of Emu Bay, pictured right, has been reliving the glory days of horse-driven transport for a year while restoring an old phaeton in his shed.

The cart had been locked in the shed at the Penneshaw Museum for more than 25 years before Mr Turner decided to restore it as a private project and donate it to the Hope Cottage Museum in Kingscote, where the bright orange paint certainly brightens up the display area.

Graham Trethewey, of Penneshaw, said it was believed the cart was originally owned by the Bates family, who had the mail run at Cape Willoughby, and it was believed to be more than 125 years old. Mr Turner discovered some complete pages of a 1913 Daily Herald newspaper in the old upholstery, which he believes would have been used the second time the seats were upholstered.

It had been eaten out by borers and had only one backrest left when Mr Turner rescued it.

The former cabinet-maker thanked the various tradespeople around Kingscote who had donated their time and expertise to the restoration project.

He added the horses and the legend of the Greek God Phaeton as his own personal touches.

The best part about the Hope Cottage display is that it is all hands-on and visitors to the museum can get up close and personal with KI history. Shauna Black