About the Talk

The first car in Australia appeared in Melbourne in November 1897 when John Pender imported a Hertel motor car from the United States. It wasn’t long before the motoring revolution that had taken Europe by storm was adopted in Australia. Ballarat was no exception. By the beginning of the 20th century motor cars and cycles had made their presence felt, either by way of demonstration, experimentation or local ownership.

In more recent times, considerable efforts have been made to assemble and document the history of these vehicles, their owners and drivers. This presentation examines how the digital era has exposed new resources for the researcher and will highlight some of those images and their stories, with a particular focus on Ballarat.

About Daryl

Daryl is an historic motoring enthusiast and automotive historian with a passion for veteran vehicles (those built prior to 1919). Following service in the Australian Army as an Infantry Officer, he had a 23 year career as an Air Traffic Controller before becoming the inaugural curator of the Shepparton Motor Museum. Most recently he retired from the position of Motoring Interests Manager for the RACV. Daryl is a member of many motoring and historical organisations, a founding member of Automotive Historians Australia and is currently President of the Veteran Car Club of Australia (Victoria). In his retirement he remains an enthusiastic restorer who maintains his own fleet of historic vehicles, spending most of his spare time researching and writing early Australian motoring history. Daryl lives in a converted church in central Ballarat with his partner Fiona, two Siberian cats and 700 vintage dresses.

Held in the historic Humffray Room on level 2 of the Ballarat Mechanics Institute. Wheelchair access is available via the lift.

Doors open at 5pm.

Contact the host of Twilight Talk: Daryl Meek

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