Knightly Alka Society Saves Unique 1873 Carriage
After a painstaking ten-month restoration, the courtyard of the Alka Palace in Sinj now showcases what is likely the world's only surviving example of a 'Victoria' carriage.
After a painstaking ten-month restoration, the courtyard of the Alka Palace in Sinj now showcases what is likely the world's only surviving example of a 'Victoria' carriage.
Since August 8, 2026, an exceptional cultural exhibit has been on display in the courtyard of the Alka Palace in Sinj: a fully restored, unique 'Victoria' carriage from 1873. This precious artifact, 153 years old, was saved from complete ruin by the Knightly Alka Society, with the restoration led by local master craftsman Ognjen Kolak.
This is most likely the only surviving and functional example of this carriage in the entire world. It was manufactured at the renowned 'Gustav Koller' factory in Graz, Austria, and its exceptional value is confirmed by data from Austrian museums. Although Koller was known for producing top-tier carriages, they do not have a single preserved example in their collections. Further confirmation of its age comes from the fact that the company that made the 'springs' for this carriage went bankrupt back in 1900.
The restoration took over ten months, and the carriage was in a severely dilapidated state. Restorer Ognjen Kolak described the process as lengthy and arduous, noting that some techniques had to be learned before they could be applied.
"We had to learn how to do some things, and only once we learned them did we apply them in the restoration, just as those master craftsmen did. It's not all exactly identical, because we couldn't achieve those conditions, for example, bending the fenders, which were bent by a steam machine, and we couldn't achieve that," Kolak stated for the Ferata portal.
Throughout the process, every detail was carefully considered to maintain 100% authenticity. The vision was for the carriage to proudly take its place in the future Museum of the Sinj Alka. However, due to budget constraints, only minimal, almost imperceptible concessions were made. For instance, instead of expensive genuine leather, a visually identical but more affordable material was used for the interior upholstery.
In addition to lead craftsman Kolak, key roles in the restoration were played by Marko Vuković Lača, who worked on the mechanics, and Miro Gusić, responsible for the precise upholstery of the interior.
Among the new details on the carriage, only the new cover and the inscription of the restoration year stand out, placed alongside the restored historical coat of arms of the Knightly Alka Society. Inside the structure itself, there is a message for those who will disassemble and service the carriage in the future. Although the rest of the text is unknown to the public, the final sentence reveals the emotion invested in the work: "Our wish is that you enjoy the Alka as much as we did."
In a hidden spot in the carriage, the three restorers signed their names, and among their own names, they included that of their friend Goran Šabić, who passed away shortly after the restoration was completed.
