THE famous York Motor Museum is for sale.
Owner Peter Briggs, of City Beach, says he is looking towards the long- term future of his York tourist landmark.
“With the recent unexpected passing of my long- term curator Peter Harbin, it has been a time of reflection,” he said. “Peter did a terrific job for the last decade- and- a- half, and the museum looks great.
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READ NOW“Last year we enjoyed higher visitor numbers than we have received for many years.
“When we opened it 36 years ago, I had no expectation that the museum would become such a great success for so many years. It is known around the world.
“Recent events have shown me I am no longer the young man I was and I think it’s time to pass my museum on to a new owner or organisation.”
Options include greater local community involvement through some sort of management group or purchase of the museum by an individual.
“We have no plans at this stage to close the museum,” Mr Briggs said. “I would like to see a transition so that York does not lose the town’s most important tourism drawcard.
“Over the decades, tens of millions of dollars have been injected into the York economy by the visitors who have come to view my cars.
“The motor museum put York on the tourist map.
“I am hopeful that we’ll find a way for it to continue for many years to come.”
The York Motor Museum was the catalyst for the renewal of York in the 1980s.
Mr Briggs created the Settlers House complex, and other investors joined him renovating the town’s hotels and commercial strip.
The York Flying 50, the first around- the- houses motor racing event since the 1960s, was run through town.
In 1984, the museum won the Sir David Brand Award for Tourism.