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Category: Car

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Maitland Steamfest 2023

Steam traction engine

Maitland Steamfest 2023

This took place on 29 and 30 April 2023 in Maitland, New South Wales. Maitland Steamfest 2023 was a festival of steam and industrial heritage. The festival celebrates Maitland’s rich steam and industrial history, which dates back to the 19th century when the city was a major coal mining and railway centre. Featuring a diverse program of family friendly entertainment, with a steam theme (well generally but not always) it was a great day out.

Train Rides

Several historic steam engines made their way to Maitland for the festival, providing rides around the Hunter Valley’s nearby towns. Starting at the Maitland train station, we arrived just in time to see the Garratt 6029 leaving. The photo below shows how well maintained the train is despite its age. It was great to be able to get close while it was running, but the noise when it let off steam was deafening.

Steam Locomotive Beyer Garratt #6029
Steam Locomotive Beyer Garratt #6029

The Rally Ground

Across the road from the train station, the rally ground had displays of antique machinery such as traction engines, portable engines and steam rollers. Most of the steam engines were running and demonstrating how they operated. Several were also driving around a loop track outside the rally ground.

Foden steam truck
Foden steam truck
Traction engine giving joyrides Maitland Steamfest 2023
Traction engine giving joyrides
Traction engine doing loops around the other displays
Traction engine doing loops around the other displays
Traction engine giving joyrides Maitland Steamfest 2023
Joyrides on a traction engine
Steam traction engine
Steam traction engine
Line up of steam engines Maitland Steamfest 2023
Line up of steam engines

Steampunk and Town Crier

We found several steampunk enthusiasts wandering through the grounds, along with a town crier who were all happy to pose to photos. They also had a display tent selling steampunk themed merchandise. They all seemed to be having a great time and staying in character.

An area was set aside where blacksmiths demonstrated their skills, which apparently are in high demand again and is a growing in popularity as a profession again.

Steampunk lady Maitland Steamfest 2023
Steampunk lady
Steampunk gentlemen
Steampunk gentlemen
Town Crier
Town Crier

Vintage Military Display

One of the not quite steam related display was a large collection of military equipment in the middle of the rally ground. They were a great addition to the other displays and had a huge crowd looking at them. With no barriers, we were able to get very close and see inside most of them.

Willys Jeep Maitland Steamfest 2023
Willys Jeep
Ferret armoured car
Ferret armoured car
Volkswagen Type 82 Kübelwagen Maitland Steamfest 2023
Volkswagen Type 82 Kübelwagen
Humvee
Humvee

What Did We Think of Maitland Steamfest 2023?

We had a great day out at Steamfest because of the relaxed atmosphere and variety of thing to see. All things steam from trains to traction engines and steampunk people.

Our photos are available for purchase on

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Gunnedah Rural Museum

Gunnedah Rural Museum Entrance

Gunnedah Rural Museum

Arriving at the museum we were greeted by a happy volunteer who gave us a map of the layout and told us to help ourselves to a tea or coffee.

With our travels we have found rural museums occupy old houses, so are quite small. Not the Gunnedah Rural Museum, it takes up several large industrial size sheds with its huge collection. Its extensive collection covers farm equipment like tractors and harvesters, cars, old children’s’ toys, old household goods and a Coca Cola bottle collection. There was even an old dentist’s chair. Walking around, you would think no one in Gunnedah had ever thrown anything out.

If you are interested in rural life in Australia from the late 1800s to late 1900s this is a fantastic place to visit. We particularly liked the tractor and car collection, as they were extensive and in good condition. The museum also has a model railway out the front for rail enthusiasts. We really enjoyed this laid back huge museum.

Old Telephone Collection Gunnedah Rural Museum
Old Telephone Collection
Gas light Gunnedah Rural Museum
Gas light
Kitchen appliances Gunnedah Rural Museum
Kitchen appliances
Meat Safe for keeping flies off meat before refrigeration
Meat Safe for keeping flies off meat before refrigeration
Radios and TV
Radios and TV
Children's Toys Gunnedah Rural Museum
Children’s Toys
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Mowers
1957 Caterpillar D4 bulldozer Gunnedah Rural Museum
1957 Caterpillar D4 bulldozer
Tractors
Tractors
Tractors Gunnedah Rural Museum
Tractors
Steam engines
Steam engines
Steam Engine Gunnedah Rural Museum
Steam Engine
Two Volkswagen Beetles
Two Volkswagen Beetles
Three Zephyrs Gunnedah Rural Museum
Three Zephyrs
Petrol Pump
Petrol Pump
Telephone Box Gunnedah Rural Museum
Telephone Box
Coca Cola Collection
Coca Cola Collection
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National Museum of Australia

FJ Holden and Propert Trailaway touring caravan

National Museum of Australia

Dedicated to preserving Australia’s social history, the National Museum of Australia contains many unique and significant artefacts. Located in Canberra on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin, its distinctive because of its architecture.

Getting There

We drove and used the large carpark on site, although as with most Canberra parking, there is a fee. Entry to the museum is free, but entrance to any special exhibits incur a fee. During our visit, Ancient Greeks, a large display of ancient Greek artefacts was there, so we paid to visit this too.

National Museum of Australia
Entrance
National Museum of Australia
National Museum of Australia

The Gandel Atrium

This is also the entrance foyer, containing the giftshop and several displays. In the centre is a cast of Australia’s most famous dinosaur, Muttaburrasaurus. Nearby is Australia’s first car, the FJ Holden and a caravan, showing the affluence of the 1950s and the rise of industrialisation.

Situated just off the atrium is the café, where food and drinks can be purchased. We bought morning coffee and snacks here before moving on to other displays.

FJ Holden and Propert Trailaway touring caravan
FJ Holden and Propert Trailaway touring caravan
Cast of Muttaburrasaurus langdoni National Museum of Australia
Cast of Muttaburrasaurus langdoni

Landmarks Gallery

The Landmarks Gallery traces the social development of Australia from it’s early colonial farming to the current day. Important features such as the windmill used to pump water, harvesters and stagecoaches give way to mining and the stock market. We thought the most interesting item here was the very first Holden Prototype preserved in excellent condition.

Kenya station windmill from the 1920s National Museum of Australia
Kenya station windmill from the 1920s
Sunshine Harvester
Sunshine Harvester
Thoroughbrace Coach used by the Nowland family, 1860–80
Thoroughbrace Coach used by the Nowland family, 1860–80
Backhoe rock shovel bucket from a Terex O&K mining excavator RH-120E
Backhoe rock shovel bucket from a Terex O&K mining excavator RH-120E
Holden Prototype No. 1 National Museum of Australia
Holden Prototype No. 1

First Australians

The First Australians gallery showcases aboriginal society from pre-colonial times to the present day. Artefacts including a full sized outrigger canoe represent Torres Strait Islander culture.

The post-colonial treatment of aboriginal people shows their disenfranchisement, loss of land and persecution. Although attempts have been made to remedy the wrongs of the past, a lot is still required for true equality. The displays here demonstrate the wrongs, often with personal stories from those who suffered.

Hatchet and an adze National Museum of Australia
Hatchet and an adze
Bark hut from the Framlingham Kaori settlement
Bark hut from the Framlingham Kaori settlement
Mask from the Western Torres Strait National Museum of Australia
Mask from the Western Torres Strait
Double outrigger canoe named Kulbasaibai, 2000, from Saibai Island in the Torres Strait,
Double outrigger canoe named Kulbasaibai, 2000, from Saibai Island in the Torres Strait,

Special Exhibition Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes

Open until 1 May 2022, Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes contains many treasures from the British Museum. From statues to tiny coins and jewellery the displays were amazing. If you are in Canberra while this is showing, it is really worth going to. We have been to Greece but still enjoyed this display.

Woman of Wealth National Museum of Australia
Woman of Wealth
Frieze from Halikarnossos Greeks vs Amazons
Frieze from Halikarnossos Greeks vs Amazons
Heroic athlete or athletic hero National Museum of Australia
Heroic athlete or athletic hero
Amphora depicting the Keles
Amphora depicting the Keles
Olympic Discus Thrower
Olympic Discus Thrower

What Did We Think?

We loved the Greek display and would have visited just for that. The rest of the museum has a nationally important collection, which we found interesting. If you want to see the social history of Australia, it’s a great place to visit.

For other places to visit in the Australian Capital Territory click here