Farm equipment engineered in Southland will be showcased in a new display being established as part of the ever-expanding Fiordland Vintage Machinery Museum.

The Southland corner was conceived by club member Max Slee who, although born and bred in central Southland, has been a member of the museum for several years and moved to Te Anau a year ago after retiring from farming at The Key.

Two weeks ago he placed an advertisement in Advocate South calling for the whereabouts of unique, Southland-manufactured machinery and was delighted when responses came in from as far afield as Tapanui and Tokanui.

The farm implements donated so far include a Begg Sheep Handler, an early model of Hecton Crutch Easy, a Heenan Crutch Easy, a Chalmers Saver Bag, an Alec Storrie 2-row horse drawn ridger (1906), a Storrie Willett 2-row horse drawn ridger (1926), and a Booth Macdonald 2-row horse drawn scuffler.

"We are trying to get gear with original labels and want to keep the collection interesting and compact, as the museum space is at a premium," Mr Slee said.

The new storage and display building that was officially opened in February this year, now has vintage tractors on display and a concrete strip recently added in the middle of the floor area.

The Vintage Machinery Museum Trust is also planning to build a new 93m x 14m, 11-bay shed. Trust secretary/treasurer, Bob Anderson, said a gravelled platform was ready for the building and drawings were at the Southland District Council for consent.

He said the new shed would be self-financing by renting some bays out to members of the trust and to the public.

"We plan to finish the shed before the next winter," Mr Anderson said.

Several restoration projects are also under way or in the pipeline.

The museum, in Sandy Brown Road, is open from 9am till 4pm, seven days a week.