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General Queensland Motoring History

Here is a collection of items of relevant Queensland motoring history that might otherwise have been lost.  

Centenary Cavalcade of Transport

1959 saw statewide celebrations of the centenary of Queensland separating from New South Wales.  In Brisbane, the "Centenary Cavalcade of Transport" featured examples of transport through the ages.  The parade included 14 Veteran Cars from our Club.  

The French Report

On the 31st of October 1923 two Canadian Ford Motor Co. officials Hubert French and Melvin Brooks arrived on Australian shores aboard the steam ship R.M.S. Niagara. The purpose of their visit was to undertake a thorough survey of the Ford distribution and dealership network in all the mainland States and Tasmania. The survey took over five months of extensive travel, much of it driving Model T Ford cars.
The following document is what has become known as, “ The French Report. It is this report that was the catalyst for Ford Motor Co. of Canada taking charge of operations in Australia." As such, the French Report is a very significant piece of Queensland and Australian motoring history.

George Roberts Interview

List of Motor Owners in Queensland, 1923

List of Motor Owners in Queensland. Names, addresses, make of cars 1923. Alphabetically and numerically arranged together with List of Motor Garages in Queensland.
Publisher: A. Hardman Knight, c.1923.

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As its title suggests, List of Motor Owners in Queensland contains two separate lists: names of registered vehicle owners in 1923 arranged alphabetically by owner, and a numerical list arranged by vehicle registration number.

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The alphabetical list includes the registration number, name of the person to whom the number was registered, address of the owner, and the make or model of the vehicle. The numerical list includes the plate number and name of the registered owner, which can then be cross-checked against the alphabetical list.

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This publication is the only known early record of registered vehicles in Queensland available to the public. It is held by the John Oxley Library and is searchable via their website.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10462/pdf/2155

The Gilltrap Dynasty

Pioneer Ascents of Mt Tamborine by Motor Car

Cotton Car Story

The George Whatmore Collection

Sunshine Coast member John Page has researched the 1915-1917 travels of George Whatmore, Ford Distributor for Queensland  ( Queensland Motor Agency Ltd.)  

 

He travelled the length and breadth of Queensland, signing up new dealers and demonstrating the toughness of the Model T Ford. The trips are illustrated with never before published photos taken by Whatmore, a keen photographer. The photos were obtained in 2017/18 from his photo albums, then held by his granddaughter.

1915 trip of 2650 miles through drought-stricken Western Queensland

1916 trip of 2785 miles through Western Queensland after drought breaking rains.  

1917 trip of 3250 miles to the Gulf and back

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