Visit
The Museum – supporting Strathalbyn’s community
The museum will bring people together, create a stronger community and provide more tourism for our town.
Strathalbyn has long been a fantastic destination for motoring groups.
It’s centrally located between Adelaide, Victor Harbor, Murray Bridge and “The Bend” at Tailem Bend. It is a popular weekend venue for motoring groups.
Using Strathalbyn as a base, motoring enthusiasts have a wide variety of sightseeing opportunities all a short distance in and around the town.
Since Strathalbyn is an established motoring destination the Strathalbyn Tourism Association decided to explore the concept of a motoring museum dedicated to showcasing the motoring history of the area. We identified Gilbert Motors’ building as suitable and have working with the Gilbert family to bring the museum concept to reality.
The Strathalbyn Tourism Association has a solid core of people who volunteer their time to organise and participate in a variety of activities and events in the community all designed to increase tourism to the area.
THE HISTORICAL ASPECT
Besides focusing on Strathalbyn’s motoring history the Museum will devote space to motor sports history in SA. The historical aspect of the museum will include:
- The Gilbert family’s contribution to the Strathalbyn area and their role in motoring
- The history of the actual museum site including the Cobb & Co link
- The manufacturing of the Treblig bicycles and motorcycles in Strathalbyn
- Historic motoring/dealership sites throughout Strathalbyn
- Kenny Blake and other motor sports people from this area
THE OVERALL GOAL
The Museum will conserve and preserve local motoring history. It is envisaged that the Museum will include:
- Displays of veteran, vintage, classic, and custom cars, heavy vehicles and motorcycles
- Display of motor sports vehicles and memorabilia
- Permanent, semi-permanent and short-term interactive displays
- Displays of motoring related items including engines, parts, posters and photographs
- Display of machinery associated with the repair and maintenance of vehicles
- A small library of motoring books and magazines
- An audio-visual area for the screening of motoring films
CLUB & GROUP VISITS
Car, motorbike, and social groups are very welcome and encouraged to come and visit.
Normal admission is $8, groups of 20 or more admission is $6 each if paid together in a single transaction. please contact us (ahead of time) via our contact form.
MUSEUM MARKET
Held on the 3rd Sunday of the month from 8am to 3pm next to the Museum.
To keep a vibrant and successful market in town we need your support – please come and visit and buy from the locals at the market.
If you want to have a stall at the market, please contact Lucy on 0407 395 404.
VISIT STRATHALBYN
Come for a day or spend a few nights to explore the town and surrounding areas. Dine in on good food or enjoy a picnic in the park. Visit the superb local wineries. Browse through the antique and speciality shops. Take a leisurely walk or book a carriage ride or helicopter flight.
Strathalbyn is only a 45-minute drive from Adelaide. Visit, stay awhile and find something fabulous.
OUR PATRON
Glen Dix OAM has kindly donated his collection of motoring memorabilia and has agreed to become the museum patron.
The collection will be displayed throughout the museum and in our library, which will be known as the Glen Dix Library.
AMBASSADOR ORDYNSKI
Ed Ordynski retired from rallying and is an advisor to the SA Motorsports Board and the Aust Institute for Motor Sport Safety.
Ed’s rally career spanned 34 years. He is best known as the leading factory driver for Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Australia.
AMBASSADOR GILBERT
Tom Gilbert is the owner/operator of the Gilbert family’s fifth generation business, Adelaide Hills Toyota and a passionate car guy with interests ranging in everything from vintage cars to all forms of motor sport.
Tom Gilbert was born in Mt Barker and has lived in the Adelaide Hills all his life. He can be found enjoying the Australian outback in a kombi or the magnificent hills roads in a vintage air-cooled Porsche.
