Vintage machinery day huge success

Daniel Elstone, 17, at the Bellarine Vintage Machinery Group rally with his six horse power Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies portable steam engine (circa 1906). (Ivan Kemp) 300292_12

Bellarine Vintage Machinery Group (BVMG) held a successful September rally at Portarlington on Sunday.

Steam engines, tractors, a saw mill, sheep shearing, classic cars and motorcycles were just some of the attractions that greeted those who attended the event.

BVMG is a not for profit organisation that aims to preserve, restore and display vintage machinery used in agriculture and industry for future generations.

Event organiser and BVMG secretary Graeme Brown said the clash of days with Geelong Football Club’s premiership family event had little impact on final numbers. Thousands attended the Cats’ big day at St Mary’s Oval in South Geelong.

“It’s a totally different crowd,” he said.

“We were really happy with the people who came to us. We targeted 400 to 500 people and I reckon we got that.”

Mr Brown said people came from the Mornington Peninsula on the ferry for the event.

There were 45 exhibitors and 85 vintage cars.

Mr Brown said it was the first time sheep shearing had been featured and it was given a resounding thumbs up.

“Originally these rallies were designed just for the members,” he said.

“People want to go somewhere where they can experience things and have things to look at.

“It was really successful because we had plenty of people there and everybody enjoyed themselves.”

The next item on the calendar for BVMG is the Royal Geelong Show and then the big one, the Bellarine Agricultural Show in March.

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