Carnamah’s plans to be home to world’s biggest Chamberlain tractor in tourism boost for Mid West town

According to its entry statement, Carnamah calls itself a “rock solid” town. Now plans are on track to have the Mid West town also known for a Big Tractor — five times the size of a normal tractor, to be precise. Carnamah may soon be home to the world’s biggest Chamberlain tractor as part of a project to boost tourism in the Mid West. An initiative of the Vintage Tractor and Machinery Association of WA (Tracmach), the project would see the installation of an exact 5:1 replica of a 40KA model Chamberlain tractor in Carnamah. Gnowangerup was previously selected as the site of the giant tractor, but the Gnowangerup Giant Tractor Group announced last year they had withdrawn from the project. In a report presented to Shire of Carnamah councillors last month, the Carnamah Big Tractor Committee requested the local government apply for a Federal Government Building Better Regions Fund grant on behalf of the project. Council did not support the motion, with meeting minutes stating the report did not meet the requirements for a proposal requesting Shire funding and in-kind support. Carnamah Big Tractor Committee chairman Brendon Haeusler said it had been a rush to meet submission requirements ahead of the deadline for the March round of Building Better Regions Fund grants, but the committee would use the additional time to complete a formal submission. “We will be putting it to council again with the appropriate paperwork for their April meeting,” he said. Mr Haeusler said the project would help bring tourists into the region and pay homage to the pioneers of WA’s agricultural industry. “Carnamah is the perfect spot for it really because we have a Chamberlain John Deere museum in town, which has got 85 fully restored Chamberlain John Deere tractors,” he said. “The tractor would help get people up this way and they will realise what is actually around here.”