Australian Ford Archives - An Update

Some 12 months ago it was discovered Ford Australia planned to ship their archives to Detroit. The Ford archives had originally been put together by the late Adrian Ryan, Motoring Journalist, commentator and enthusiast, then working as Ford’s head of Public Affairs.

The archive material expanded once Ford announced closure of manufacturing with all suitable old material located to Broadmeadows. Archivist, Michelle Cook was then told to box the material up for shipment overseas.

Word spread quickly resulting in ex Ford employee, Peter Fry, leading a movement to preserve the Ford Archives in Australia. Wheels magazine ran a story in their September 2016 issue, urging readers to write to the Minister and Ford expressing concern.

See https://www.wheelsmag.com.au/news/1609/ford-faithfuls-fight-to-keep-australian-archive

The AHA also took up the matter with local politicians, receiving support from the Hon Martin Foley MP, who wrote supporting our concern to the Minister responsible, Hon. Mitch Fifield who has now advised that Ford require an export permit as the archive was reregulated under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act.

Fifield’s Dept advised Ford they needed a licence and to date have not applied for one.

The good news is Ford’s archivist has been employed for a further 12 months suggesting perhaps the archive will be rehoused in Australian Institutes, and be available for local research.Some 12 months ago it was discovered Ford Australia planned to ship their archives to Detroit. The Ford archives had originally been put together by the late Adrian Ryan, Motoring Journalist, commentator and enthusiast, then working as Ford’s head of Public Affairs.

The archive material expanded once Ford announced closure of manufacturing with all suitable old material located to Broadmeadows. Archivist, Michelle Cook was then told to box the material up for shipment overseas.

Word spread quickly resulting in ex Ford employee, Peter Fry, leading a movement to preserve the Ford Archives in Australia. Wheels magazine ran a story in their September 2016 issue, urging readers to write to the Minister and Ford expressing concern.  See 

The AHA also took up the matter with local politicians, receiving support from the Hon Martin Foley MP, who wrote supporting our concern to the Minister responsible, Hon. Mitch Fifield who has now advised that Ford require an export permit as the archive was reregulated under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act.

Fifield’s Dept advised Ford they needed a licence and to date have not applied for one.

The good news is Ford’s archivist has been employed for a further 12 months suggesting perhaps the archive will be rehoused in Australian Institutes, and be available for local research.

NAD

Historic 1920s motor garage becomes facade for new Arts Hub in Hobart

 University of Tasmania has announced the name for their new performing arts hub – The Hedberg – an acknowledgement that part of the new building’s site was once the Hedberg Brothers 1925 purpose built two storey motor showroom and workshop. Only the façade of the Hedberg Garage will remain at the completion of the arts hub construction

 The Hedbergs were motor engineers in Hobart in the inter-war years. Of their new 1926 premises the Hobart Mercury noted – “HEDBERG'S GARAGE. Messrs. Hedberg Bros. have removed from Brisbane Street….spacious new premises in Lower Collins Street, where general repairs are being effected and sale of the Moon cars made. There is large garage space on the ground floor, at the rear of which is situated the workshop with a showroom in front. The offices are located on the first floor”.

[Motor Notes (1926, January 23). The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), p. 6. Retrieved January 20, 2017 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29127649

“The former Hedberg Bros. Garage is a relatively rare surviving example of an early commercial garage that retains its ability to demonstrate its use and features. (Pg.4)

…….. The loss of physical fabric with the partial demolition of the former Hedberg Garage does impact upon the significance of the place.

The proposed Academy will however bring with it an opportunity for considerable enhancement of heritage within the precinct.”(Pg. 6)

[Hobart City Council. Supporting Assessment Information. Development and Environmental Services Committee Meeting Monday 20 October 2014.

An interesting discussion of the pros and cons of partial demolition of a heritage building can be found here https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwiO_fv8ms_RAhXEjJQKHa9uDwAQFggZMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hobartcity.com.au%2Ffiles%2F0abbf6b8-ab2a-4b0e-896b-a3c6010fdcd1%2F201014_Supporting_Information_-_Item_632.pdf&usg=AFQjCNEuD-xMfIgSfcPFazmK56tHZ4PFJg&sig2=rT05c7Gn_jtBUM9y0a3ThA&bvm=bv.144224172,d.dGo&cad=rja] 

Ron Tauranac AO, king of auto racing design

The Repco Brabham BT19 was at the Sandown historic race meeting in November 2016

AHA secretary Tony Lupton recently wrote about our patron Ron Tauranac AO for RACV RoyalAuto

Closure of Ford Manufacturing

Tomorrow, Friday 7 Oct 2016, spells the end of Ford car manufacturing in Australia. There have been several news print items with Nick Toscano’s Age Businessday (1 Oct) cover story linked here.

Two books have been released on the subject, both adding to the back story and consequences of closing Australia’s Auto manufacturing industry down.

Ian Porter, What happened to the car industry, Scribe, released in May 2016 takes a global view and Royce Kurmelovs, The Death of Holden, Hachette, released August 2016 investigates Holden’s Elizabeth Plant and the impact on workers as well as Ford in Geelong and Broadmeadows. Both books add to the understanding of the decisions leading to the closures and provide an insight, based on past manufacturing closures, as what to expect the impact on the community will be.

A postcript: Wheels mag. Nov issue carries a comprehensive look at Ford models in Australia 1960-2016 but perhapes more importantly for Automotive historians alerts to the removal of the Ford Archive to Ford US Archive. This has been know for some time however now there is agitation by some high-profile Ford past and present employees to stop the shipment, due to go at the end of the year. Peter Robinson, former Wheels editor, suggests concerned historians and others write to the Minister, Mitch Fifield at minister@communications.gov.ay to voice concern that our automotive heritage is being shipped offshore.

AOMC - Victorian Engine Number Records history

The AOMC has offered a valuable service for enthusiasts researching th registration details of their Victorian registered vehicles. Philip Johnstone and Matthew Lambert provide an insight to the history of this service. PDF opens in a new window

Dick Johnson announced as Patron of 2017 Phillip Island Classic Historic Race

Under the direction of Peter Brock’s ex Chief Mechanic and race engine specialist, Ian Tate, Chairman of the VHRR Phillip Island organising committee, the Patron for the 2017 event has been announced as Australian motor sport legend Dick Johnson.

With more than 500 entries expected (the 2016 event attracted 550) the 2017 event will be built around production touring cars Group N, and Group C & A cars, celebrating in particular the 30th anniversary of the 1st win in a world championship race for a Ford Sierra with Dick Johnson at the wheel in Australia.

See  http://vhrr.com/wp/phillip-island/

Vale Bill Tuckey

It is sad new we learn of Bill Tuckey's passing last night. Long time editor of Wheels magazine and author of a number of books Bill was 80. Read an obituary at Wheels magazine.

Titles by Tuckey 1965, The Book of Australian Motor racing, K G Murry, 1967, The Ultimate Excitement - The Motor Race Photography of Nigel Snowden, 1979,  An old dog a hard roadstory of the Repco Rallys, Lone Tree Hill Press, 1984, The unforgiving minute - The real story of folk hero Dick Johnson, 1986, James Hardie 1000 1985/86, 1987,  The Rise and Fall of Peter Brock,  Richmond Vic, Greenhouse, 1989,  The Wynns history of famous Australian Car Trials,  Golden Press, 1999, Lion King - Commodore celebrating 21 years, Quill, 2000,  True Blue,  Edgecliff, NSW, Focus for the Ford Motor CoT, 2003, Australians and their cars, 2004, The sound and the fury - 100 years of motor sport in Australia, Focus Books, Australian International Veteran & Vintage Rally, with Berghouse, Ray, 1982, James Hardie 1000 1981/82, Lansdown PressTuckey, with Thomas Floyd,  From Redex to Repco, Australian Motoring Year 1-9 1982/83-1992, Berghouse  et al  (Ed)

Historic Vehicle Stolen

Normally I would not report on a stolen vehicle but this one is a bit close to home as it belongs to a committee member. Taken last night on a trailer it is the third collector vehicle to be stolen in Melbourne in the last week. An XY GT Falcon, a 1954 Chev BelAir and now a 1910 Delarge. The following from the owner.

Sometime between 6pm Saturday night, 9/4/16, and 6am Sunday morning, 10/4/16, our 1910 Delage Model F Roadster was stolen from Tullamarine along with the trailer it was loaded on.

Police have been notified and advised that the best thing to do was to get the message out to as many as possible, as soon as possible.  We can only hope that the thief’s interest was in the trailer and the car will be left somewhere undamaged. 

Further information available at http://www.vicpolicenews.com.au/news/9676-villian-steals-vintage-vehicle.html

 Any information would be greatly appreciated. Contact: Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000