Historical information
The model of the horse and spring cart was made by Mattaeus (Martin) Schaefer. Martin was awarded a Silver Medal for the model at the Bendigo Juvenile Exhibition in April 1879. At the Melbourne Intercolonial Juvenile Industrial Exhibition, 1880, Martin was awarded a gold medal for the 'woodwork of model spring cart' (Bendigo Advertiser 6 March 1880). In 1882, he was awarded a first prize for the cart at the Grand National Show, Bendigo. 1885: first prize County of Bendigo Agricultural and Horticultural Society Spring Show.
In 1883, Schafer (sic) was a member of the Bendigo Coachbuilders' Association ( Bendigo Advertiser, 'Bendigo Coachbuilders Association', Saturday 9 June, page 3 )
Martin died in 1900, at the age of 40, from pneumonia.
His obituary reads: 'Death of Mr. M. Schaefer. After an illness of a few days, Mr. Martin Schaefer, coachbuilder and son of the late Mr. Peter Schaefer of Ironbark, died early on Wednesday morning. The cause of death was pneumonia, supervening on a cold which he contracted about Saturday last. He was 40 years of age and unmarried. He leaves three brothers one of whom is the Manager of the Victoria Consols Mine and another is Mr. Peter Schaefer of the Bendigo Post Office. The funeral took place yesterday, the remains being interred at the Bendigo Cemetery. The Rev. Mr. Leypoldt officiated at the graveside and the mortuary arrangements were carried out by Mr. W.H. Oakley'
Bendigo Independent, Saturday 17 November, page 4.
Physical description
Model of horse and spring cart in a wooden display case, made by Matthaeus (Martin) Schaefer. The wooden horse is cream with black hooves and a dark cream horse hair tail. Horse is carved from wood; harness made from fine leather with buckles and embellishments made from metal. Spring cart model is made from wood and metal with the shafts extended forwards alongside the horse. Inside the body of the cart is a bench seat, upholstered in leather. The cart is secured in place in the display case by wooden block restraints placed either side of the wheels. Wheels are painted red, each wheel has fourteen spokes.
