When the Museum of the Riverina began researching a little red pushbike in their collection, what they found was enough to fill an exhibition and a book.
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The delivery bicycle remembered by many in Wagga belonged to Huthwaite's 'The Friendly Store,' a general store beloved by many in its 75-year history.
Museum manager Luke Grealy said they were overwhelmed by people wanting to donate memorabilia and share stories about the store, which began as a small shop in the early 1900s and grew into a major business selling groceries, agricultural products, clothing and more.
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Mr Grealy said they heard stories of the community spirit of the business, which used to offer credit to drought-stricken farmers and even once delivered a free hamper to a shoplifter after learning he had fallen on hard times.
"We got overwhelmed by people raving about how good a business it was, how much they loved it," he said.
An exhibition full of the history of the shop is open at the old Council Chambers, next to an exhibition celebrating the history of many other successful Wagga businesses and events.
'Made In Wagga' is a refreshed retrospective on the first major in-house exhibition the museum put on in 2005 after being taken on by the Wagga council.
Mr Grealy said the exhibition was a "rejigged" version of that 2005 collection, with a few new items and video footage added to help tell the story of iconic businesses like the Murrumbidgee Mill and Kendall Airlines as well as events including the Gumi Race and Miss Wagga.
The two exhibitions are running until June 20 at the Historic Council Chambers museum site on Baylis Street from 10am-4pm Tuesday to Saturday and 10am-2pm on Sundays.
Entry is free.
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