Old Courthouse Museum in Narrogin reopens a year after elderly couple’s car crashed through main wall

Narrogin’s historic museum and shop has finally reopened a year after a car ploughed through its walls, with the manager saying it was “wonderful” to welcome visitors back after the terrifying incident. Narrogin’s Old Courthouse Museum officially opened its doors again on January 12, more than 12 months after an elderly couple crashed through the Earl Street museum’s brick wall about 10.30am on December 17. A man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s were both taken to Narrogin Health Service, where they were treated for their injuries. Crews from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services stabilised the building as it was deemed unsafe. Helen Elliott, who has been museum manager for 10 years, said reopening after so long was “wonderful” and the shop proved popular on its first day back. “People have missed it; for a lot of people (the building) is an icon,” she said. “They come here for the museum and shop, for the plants, jams and chutneys — that’s some people’s regular routine and they really missed it.” Builders began to repair the structure in September once museum volunteers and shire staff completely cleared the building. Ms Elliott said despite the severity of the crash, only one museum artefact was unable to be saved. “The window was totally knocked out but it was somehow intact, so there was no glass broken,” she said. “It entered into the courtroom and the judge’s bench was moved about 18 inches; everything on that wall was just shunted forward. “The only artefact that had broken was a basin and jug that was directly behind that wall. “The cabinet it was sitting on did get damaged but has been repaired, but the jug and basin got broken into a million pieces. “Fortunately there wasn’t a lot of artefacts on that judge’s bench, it was books and resource material, so apart from them being very dusty they were all salvageable — I think one chair had a crack in it. “The cabinets with all the artefacts in it, (the car) missed that part.” Looking on the bright side, Ms Elliott said after the repairs they took it as an opportunity to “reshuffle” the displays by adding in new cabinets and a fresh set up.