Gunnedah Rural Museum officially reopens but flood waters and road closures cause new headaches

Home to one of Australia's largest collections of early agriculture, industrial history and transport memorabilia, COVID-19 restrictions forced the museum to shut its doors earlier this year.

But volunteers like Owen Tydd took the opportunity to refurbish and redecorate the exhibitions and displays for when the museum was officially able to reopen on Monday.

Mr Tydd said they were advised things would "boom" in December, but despite their best efforts the recent rainfall in Gunnedah has created new problems for the museum.

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"We haven't had many visitors come through because of the floods, all the roads have been closed, it's so different to what it normally is," he said.

But with over 18,000 items on display Mr Tydd was confident they would get things "rolling again".

From tractors and steam engines to vintage biscuit tin collections, the museum has something for everyone and visitors are urged to allow plenty of time to explore the exhibits.

With Christmas coming up Mr Tydd hoped one of the "biggest drawcards" to get visitors back would be the iconic electric miniature model railway, donated by local Don McDonagh, which will be up and running on December 22 until Christmas Eve.

Located on the corner of Alford Street and Oxley Highway, the museum hopes to have a festive party, with rumours Santa may also attend.

"The more the merrier," Mr Tydd said.

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