History

Remembering an Australian legend

Sir Jack Brabham, bust on view at the National Portrait Gallery

by Monica Lindemann on 1 July, 2014

Over the weekend I took the opportunity to visit the National Portrait Gallery to view the very impressive bronze sculpture of Sir Jack Brabham. Until I was informed by one of our Royal Daimler Project partners, I hadn’t been aware that it was on display. If you attend the Gallery, you’ll find Sir Jack very prominently positioned at the enterance to the main gallery.

Below is a transcription of the text panel that accompanies the Bronze, acknowledging Sir Jack’s incredible sporting achievements.

Continue reading “Remembering an Australian legend”
Conservation, Fundraising campaign, History

The Daimler Rolling Chassis

by Catrina Vignando on 19 June, 2014

The Royal Daimler chassis is all chromed up and on display for a limited time in the main hall at the National Museum in Canberra.

With as much fanfare as we could muster, we made a short video of the chassis being set up for display by our registration team. Continue reading “The Daimler Rolling Chassis”

Fundraising campaign, History, Memories

When The Queen Came To Town

by Kathi Zarka on 10 June, 2014

Matinee Fundraiser for 12 June

Put on your royal finery and join us at an exclusive film preview that celebrates the 1954 Royal Visit!

Tickets are $25 and include a 1950s style afternoon tea and raffle with fabulous prizes to be won! All proceeds will go towards the Royal Daimler conservation project.

Screening on Thursday, 12 June from 2 – 3.30pm in the Visions Theatre at the National Museum of Australia.

Conservation, Fundraising campaign, History, Memories

The Royal Daimler stripped back

by Kathi Zarka on 10 June, 2014

Conserved Chassis in the Hall

The chassis of this grand old car is now on display in the Museum’s Main Hall until 27 July 2014. Don’t miss this last opportunity to see the ‘craftsmanship behind the car’ before it goes back to the workshop for final conservation treatment. Continue reading “The Royal Daimler stripped back”

History

The Australian Six

by Laura Breen on 28 March, 2014

The ‘Australian Six’ is a new acquisition by the National Museum of Australia.
This elegant vehicle represents one of the earliest attempts to establish an automotive manufacturing industry in Australia. In the wake of the First World War and amid growing worldwide interest in automotive technology, Australian entrepreneur Frederick Gordon was among the first to recognise the financial viability of importing cheap vehicle components for local assembly, rather than importing expensive complete vehicles from overseas. Manufactured in the United States in 1918 by American Motors Corporation of New Jersey, this car was imported to Sydney as a partially assembled prototype intended to showcase Gordon’s novel experiment. Continue reading “The Australian Six”

History, Memories

When the Queen came to town

by Catrina Vignando on 7 March, 2014

When-the-queen-came-to-town.jpg

This year, 2014, marks 60 years since Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s first visit to Australia as the young reigning monarch. About 75 per cent of Australia’s population caught a glimpse of the newly-crowned Queen on her 1954 Royal tour.

A feature documentary, When the Queen Came to Town , is being produced in celebration of the 60th anniversary of this event. The producers of the film are seeking to hear from members of the public who took film footage of the 1954 Royal tour with 8mm or 16mm home movie cameras of the time. Continue reading “When the Queen came to town”

Conservation, History

Riding in Style

by Vicki Humphrey on 19 February, 2014

Chris van Schaardenburgh (left) and Stuart Wilkinson (right) with the Daimler de 36 at Coventry Transport Museum

On the 13th February, I had the good fortune to visit the Coventry Transport Museum to see the Daimler de36 Landaulette in their collection. Many thanks to Stuart Wilkinson, the Chairman of the Transport for organising the visit, driving me there and accompanying me throughout the visit. As usual with the vehicle community, he was really generous with time and information and has continued to chase up Daimler related things for us. Thanks also to Peter Grant for putting me in touch with Stuart. This really is a car community effort.

Continue reading “Riding in Style”