FEATURE – GEELONG MUSEUM OF MOTORING - JUST CARS

FEATURE – Geelong Museum of Motoring

If you’re coming to the Geelong Revival this November, make some time to call into the Geelong Museum of Motoring and Industry, too.

Located less than 15 minutes from Geelong’s CBD, the museum recently celebrated 12 months in its new location at 23 Waymouth Street (off Vines Road) in Hamlyn Heights.

Rolling Display

To backtrack a little, past visitors to Geelong may remember the Ford Discovery Centre in the city’s waterfront precinct. Those that do recall that facility will no doubt remember its impressive collection of Ford vehicles and Ford-related design and engineering displays.

When the Discovery Centre closed in 2012, a group of local automotive enthusiasts, including John Smith (the collections manager at the current museum), Ken Parker, Nick Heath and others, recognised the importance of retaining some sort of automotive museum in Geelong.

So began a long process of negotiating with Ford, City of Greater Geelong Council and other stakeholders to not only find a new facility, but also get it up and running.

First opening in North Geelong in 2014, issues with that location led the museum’s board to look for a fresh site. The subsequent one wasn’t ideal, either, but in a case of ‘third time lucky’, the space at Waymouth St proved ideal, with the move-in happening throughout the second half of 2018 ahead of an official opening in November of that year.

Ford Heaven

With more than half of the 1500 sqm. display space devoted to Ford, the museum is a mecca for fans of the Blue Oval.

The abundance of Ford vehicles and Ford-related displays reflects the strong place Ford Motor Company once held in Geelong. From the Model T to the last Australian-made Falcon and Territory, the vehicles on show cover a broad spread of Ford’s local history.

Related memorabilia is displayed throughout the site, too, with some real gems amongst the brochures, advertisements, merchandise and other ephemera, too, including items not only connected to Ford Australia, but Ford USA’s headquarters in Dearborn.

Several of the display vehicles, including concepts and engineering development cars, are on loan from Ford Australia’s own collection, so a visit to the museum presents the only chance to see vehicles that are normally locked away from public view.

At time of writing, a one-off Aussie performance Ford from the late 1980s, the ‘EA GT’ show car was looking likely to be added to the display, too.

Not just Ford!

If you don’t bleed blue, fear not, for the Geelong Museum of Motoring has more than just Ford.

Everything from Chevrolet to Morris to Plymouth are on display – even the “enemy” in Holden!

Like the Ford section, vehicles in this area are rotated on an occasional basis, to keep the display fresh and to ensure visitors come back.

There are also some innovative and unusual vehicles on show, including a vintage Aussie tourer with a difference. We can’t tell you any more – you really need to see it for yourself!

See for Yourself

Open five days a week (Thu to Mon 10AM – 4PM), the Geelong Museum of Motoring and Industry will be open each day of the 2019 Geelong Revival (22 - 24 November), so make sure you add it to your Revival itinerary.

The museum’s dedicated and knowledgeable group of volunteers also welcomes school groups, tour groups and car clubs, so if your club has a run planned for the Surf Coast or around the Bellarine Peninsula, a Museum visit is an ideal pit stop.

There’s a shop on site, with books, collectables and other merchandise for sale. Refreshments are available nearby and functions can be catered on request.

Museums like this one are an important part of keeping our automotive history alive, so make sure you give this one your support.