Our History

How the South Gippsland Branch of the Gippsland Historical Automobile Club (GHAC) was formed and the journey to today.

It all started with an advertisement placed in the local paper for a public meeting to be held in the old council chambers in Leongatha on Thursday 21st of July 1977.

The meeting was chaired by Lloyd Savage and was attended by sixteen members of the Gippsland Historical Automobile Club from Morwell and forty-two visitors.

The meeting outlined the ideas and aims of the club and the advantages of forming a sub-branch of GHAC. A motion was moved by Alan Brown and seconded by Rod Cooper to form a sub-branch of GHAC based in Leongatha. The motion was carried.

The first general meeting of the South Gippsland branch of GHAC was held on the first Thursday in August 1977, and has been held on that first Thursday of every month since.

The first outing was held at Outrim Recreation Reserve Oval on the 18th of September 1977. It was called the “Get to know you rally.” This event was very well attended.

At the end of the first year there were 30 branch members and a total of $69.45 in the bank. This money was raised from club fines and supper fees.

Our first public display was held in September 1978 to raise funds for the running of the club. It was held behind the current club rooms at the Leongatha recreation reserve in conjunction with the Daffodil Festival. The display was made up of tractors, cars, steam and stationary engines.

The second Sunday in January 1983 was the first swap meet with 40 sites and forty years later the swap meet is still run on the second Sunday in January, and we have 350 sites with people travelling from as far as NSW to attend. The swap meet has always been run by volunteer members from the club.

In March 1981 the monthly meetings were held at the Leongatha Technical school while the council rooms were being renovated. In February 1988 the club was on the move again as meetings were held in the gold room at the RSL, and then onto the local primary school in February 1993, followed by another move to the old railway station in April 1996.

As the club continued to grow, the decision was made that a more permanent solution for club rooms was required. So, on the 18th of August 2007, some thirty years after starting the club the old chook sheds at the Leongatha recreation reserve was secured as the new home of the club.

After many hours of hard work by volunteers and lots of money, the old chook sheds were converted into a comfortable place that the club could finally call home.

With many outing per year and big events such as the Melbourne Cup weekend away, the 150 + members enjoy everything mechanical but most of all we enjoy the many friendships made over the years.

It is always important to acknowledge the foresight and determination of those that have come before us, and we must thank every member that we have had over the many years, as each and everyone has made the great club we have today.