The owner of the York Motor Museum has announced the sale of the museum to a local community group.
The Avon Valley Motor Museum Association Inc (AVMMA) will take over the day-to-day operation of the town’s most important tourism asset previous owned by Peter Briggs.
Mr Briggs said that the sale of the museum would ensure the long term future of the York tourist landmark.
“I have agreed to become Patron of the AVMMA and the organisation has generously committed to recognise my role as the founder of the museum in a permanent display,” Mr Briggs said.
“The new owners have some exciting plans to grow the museum and I will be renovating my workshop building further down Avon Terrace to create a reserve collection and motoring art gallery.
“I wish the new owners well and I look forward to working with them in coming years.”
He said that since the museum first opened in 1979 it had attracted more than a million people to the Avon Valley.
“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,” Mr Briggs said.
“The York Motor Museum put York on the tourist map and the sale of the museum will ensure that it will continue to attract visitors for years to come.
“I imported classic cars from all over the world to exhibit in the museum and I think we opened the eyes of many people in Australia to the fascinating world of old cars.
“When we opened the museum 38 years ago, I had no expectation that it would become a such a great success for so many years. It is known around the world.”
The York Motor Museum was the catalyst for the renovation and 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 Motor Museum will continue to open daily from 9.30am to 4.00pm.
