AN idea tossed around at get-togethers of motoring enthusiasts in northern Victoria for the past 25 years has finally taken shape.

The new Shepparton Motor Museum squats neatly between a produce store and chocolate shop in the Emerald Bank Leisureland tourist complex at Kialla.

The museum, which will be open full time, is a non-profit company, with Emerald Bank chief Tony Badrock as part-time general manager and Daryl Meek, from Ballarat, full-time curator.

The project's two main movers were Lloyd Mawson, who owns Emerald Bank, and Jim Andreadis, owner of SPC-Ardmona Factory Sales and a muscle-car enthusiast, Tony said.

"The idea had been talked about for years, but nothing happened until Lloyd and Jim said, 'Let's just do it'," he said.

With a preview function just before Christmas and an official opening set for February 18-19, the museum is filling fast with an eclectic mix of highly prized cars and motorcycles.

The 1450sq m space will show 45-50 cars and 35-40 bikes, with associated paraphernalia and a shop.

"Everything that comes into the museum is subject to a loan agreement and the plan is to constantly turn the collection over," Daryl said.

The museum will feature rotating temporary exhibitions of eight to 10 vehicles, about every three months, focusing on a particular theme.

"The first of those will start from our February opening and be called 'The Fabulous Fifties'," Daryl said.

He said there were 25 vehicle collections or museums in Victoria, but most were only open at weekends, by appointment or were private.

There were only a few other full-time motor museums in Victoria, including the Portland Powerhouse Motor and Car Museum and the National Holden Museum in Echuca.

"Charlie's on Arthurs Seat is a full-time operation as well, though he closes a couple of months a year for holidays," Daryl said.

He said his three key criteria for choosing exhibits were vehicles that were unique or interesting, were relevant to the area and had a story to tell.

"The Goulburn Valley is very strong in a motoring sense - the numbers of private collections around the area is quite phenomenal," Daryl said.

"A lot of those just never come out.

"We have some exceptional vehicles right from the word go - a 1916 Overland field ambulance, a beautiful 1936 Alvis Speed 25, 1968 Shelby Cobra GT500 and a 1913 Tweenie, one of only two known to exist.

"There's a 1935 Austin 7 once owned by a spinster who gave it to her great-nephew - that came with a set of books recording every penny she ever spent on the car.

"Our little WGM Special was built in 1950 to 1951 by two blokes in their spare time, yet it competed in one of the races at the 1953 Australian Grand Prix."

Property developer David Marriner once owned the 1927 Cadillac on show.

And a 1937 250cc Carlton motorcycle, which the original owner's son restored, has been donated, complete with photos of the father with it.

"John Hill, a local collector, has loaned a 1950s BSA with sidecar which we plan to keep in original condition," Daryl said.

"We'll find some helmets and leather jackets and allow kids to have their photos taken with it.

"On the motorcycles, we've got a 1938 Brough Superior, considered the Rolls-Royce of motorbikes, formerly tucked away in a local shed."

Other early arrivals on the floor included a 1904 De Dion Bouton, a 1911 Ford Model T "Mother-in-law" Roadster, a 1964 Vanden Plas Princess four-litre R, a 1968 Pontiac Parisienne, a 1971 Ford XY GTHO, a 1972 Jensen Interceptor III, a 1965 Ford Mustang, a 1911 Precision, a 1928 Triumph, a 1938 Velocette, a 1978 Ducati Supersport and a 1996 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail.

The museum also has a collection of 12 antique pedal cars, on loan from a local family, motoring magazines going back to the 1940s and several old enamel signs.

"I'm sure people will be impressed when they come in," Daryl said. "We're pretty proud of what we have achieved."

  • The Shepparton Motor Museum is at 7717 Goulburn Valley Highway, Kialla, phone (03) 5823 5833.