WALKING through Meadowbank Museum, just outside Roma, is a lot like stepping back through time.

The Tites, who have owned the property for several generations, want both locals and tourists to come along this Easter long weekend to experience what Roma used to be like.

Managers Allan and Robyn Tite have a collection of both local and national artefacts up to 100 years old that need to be seen to be believed, including wagons and sulkys from the early 20th century.

Allan, whose parents started the museum in 1980, said it was appropriate it was located on a property so important to Roma’s foundations.

“One of the buildings here was used as a stable for all the horses owned by the property Mt Abundance, which had Roma’s original post office,” he said.

“This all used to be Mt Abundance, which stretched out towards St George before the railroad came through.”

Among their more prized artefacts include the old Western Star printing press and linotype machine, a Toowoomba Chronicle saleswagon and a sulky with its original upholstery.

Allan’s mother Pat said while all the items in their museum had their own story, there was one device she discovered that amazed her.

“We found what’s called a sheet ringer – we discovered it somewhere and didn’t know what it was,” she said.

“Someone had to tell us what it was – you would hook a wet sheet onto it and turn it, which would ring it out.”

When asked about why she and her late husband started the museum, the answer was simple.

“Roma didn’t have anything to help preserve the heritage we have,” she said.

“We’ve gotten stuff from here to the bottom of Victoria.”

Allan said it wasn’t just tourists he wanted to come along and see the display.

“We’d love locals to come back and see what Roma was like,” he said.

The museum is open six days a week. For more information, phone 0488 527 355.