Aussies on lookout for antique treasures to take home
It is not unusual for people to visit Shropshire's antique shops for items to take home, but Haydn Pearce and Carl Jackson travel further than most.
For the duo come 10,800 miles to search for treasures to sell back home in Tasmania, Australia.
The pair, who base themselves near Newport on their twice-yearly visits, even employ local man Nick Goodwin, 34, to help them.
Mr Jackson said: "We come over every six months or so and we have a container at Knighton Mount which we fill with all sorts to take back to Australia.
"We've employed Nick and bought him a van.
"He can use that for other jobs around the area when we're not here, and all we ask of him is to go and pick things up for us that we have bought online, and put them in the container."
The pair are on the lookout for all sorts of antiques, but are especially looking for items that have links to Australia or the Pacific Islands.
Mr Jackson said: "There are a lot of Australian items over here from when people first discovered the islands and brought things back, and when people went touring they would also bring things back.
"However, it's not just that. Haydn is also looking for any old science equipment and things like that as well."
The pair always make Shropshire their home when they come over.
Mr Jackson said: "We have a base here because it means we can go up and down the country, it's quite central.
"We also find a lot of antiques and antique sales are in the Shropshire area.
"We are after all sorts for us to take back. The other day we bought an old Jenson Interceptor from a man in Watford."
The duo have also recently bought an old mental asylum in Australia and are turning it into a hotel.
Mr Jackson said: "It's going to be the first one in the world. It's the old Tasmanian Mental Asylum, and it still has all the rooms and stuff there, so we're also looking for things to go in there.
"Anything that is Georgian or Victorian will suit it quite well.
"There was a morgue there as well so we're going to have it so people can sleep in the metal drawers where the bodies were kept or can sleep on the slate and things like that.
"We've had a lot of interest in Australia and even had Fox News come over and interview us. We'd be happy to pop round to have a look if anyone has any items they think we would be interested in or would be happy to sell."
For further details contact Nick Goodwin on 07940 384659.
