A bit of research suggested that although there are still weblinks to a motor museum in Sydney, it closed in mysterious circumstances, so the automotive enthusiast needs to travel out of the city to find a display of motoring heritage. You don’t have to go very far, though, as about 1 hour south west of Sydney, located only a couple of kilometres off the main F6 Freeway, just beyond Wollongong, and you find the Australian MotorLife Museum. The Museum was established in 1992, and more recently move to its current premises, which also allowed for the incorporation of a collection of cars and memorabilia accumulated by the late Paul Butler. There are now two large display halls, with slightly dim lighting (apologies now for the dark photos in places) which provide an insight not just into the history of cars and motoring but also some other 20th Century inventions such as typewriters and gramophones. There is also a workshop on site, which is used for an on-going program of restoration.These were the display highlights at the time of my visit in March 2012
1923 Overland featuring a 1.8 litre engine, and an Australian body
1933 Rover 14hp Pilot
1947 Rover 16
1924 Morris Cowley
Ford Model T
1910 Oakland 25
1935 Morgan 3 wheeler
1934 Chrysler Airflow
MG Magnette ZA
Holden FJ
Hupmobile
Lightburn Sports Zeta
Mini
Messerschmitt TS250
1909 Model T Ford
Dodge
Lloyd Alexander TS
1924 Rugby
1934 Triumph Super Eight
1927 Ford Model T
1916 Humber 11.9hp
1955 Series 1 Land-Rover
1923 Summit Roadster
1948 Holden 48-215, the FX
1935 Jowett 10
Whippet
Morris J
1963 Austin Truck
1923 Rolls Royce 40/50
1923 Napier 40/50
Oakland
1913 Metz
Morris MM Minor Tourer
Austin Seven
Austin A40 Ute
1921 Ford Model TT One Ton
International Pick Up
1917 GMC Bus
Leyland
1924 Garford Pump Fire Engine
1951 Morris
1942 Ford Blitz Fire Truck
Fiat 500
Daimler SP250 Dart
Alvis TC/21
1924 Lanchester 40
1905 Battery Electric Crane
1927 Auburn Straight Eight Roadster
There were plenty of vintage motorbikes as well.
Among the other memorabilia are a splendid collection of period petrol pumps which are displayed throughout the museum.
More details are available at the museum’s own website: www.motorlifemuseum.com2012-04-16 18:23:42
