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Category: Vehicles

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Our Town Model Show Newcastle 2019

HMAS Tobruk (L 50)

Our Town Model Show

An annual event held at the Newcastle Jockey Club, Our Town Model Show  caters for a wide range of hobbies from model trains and planes to doll houses and boats. Anyone interested in models making or collecting will enjoy this event, because everyone who attends is passionate about their hobby.

Model Trains

There was a great display of trains running with amazingly well detailed dioramas. The effort that went into constructing them was outstanding, making it just as interesting as the trains were.

  • Railway Model
    Railway Model
  • Railway Model
    Diorama Railway Model
  • Railway Model
    Railway Model

Model Ships

The model boat displays were truly awesome. On static display was a range of 72 scale destroyers and other ships by Task Force 72. At around 2 m long, these huge models are amazingly detailed replicas of the original ship.

There was an indoor pond displaying remote controlled boats, which we found extremely interesting, because of the variety and detail of the ships. Many of them were zooming around, especially the tugboats which were very manoeuvrable. At 1:100 scale, these models show the dedication their owners give to their hobby to produce such great replicas.

  • HMAS Hobart by Task Force 72
    HMAS Hobart by Task Force 72
  • Indoor Pool and Remote Controlled Ships
    Indoor Pool and Remote Controlled Ships
  • HMAS Tobruk (L 50)
    HMAS Tobruk (L 50)
  • A Ship on the Inside Pool
    A Ship on the Inside Pool

Model Aircraft

Model aircraft were present in a huge array covering all eras of flight and different scales. There was a huge display showing the skills of the model builders.

Scale Model Aircraft Display at Our Town Model Fair
Scale Model Aircraft Display
  • Large Remote Controlled Tiger Tank
    Large Remote Controlled Tiger Tank

Science Fiction Models

Science fiction models from Star Wars, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica and Gundam were on display, making an interesting alternative to the “real world” models elsewhere at the Our Town Model Show.

  • Gundam Models at the Our Town Model Fair Newcastle
    Gundam Models

Die Cast Models

An extensive display of Corgi and other brands of cars, buses and machinery catered for collectors of die-cast models.

  • Corgi Bus Display at Our Town Model Fair Newcastle
    Corgi Bus Display
  • Cars Models at Town Model Fair Newcastle
    Cars Models

Hobby Supplies For Sale

For anyone interested in adding to their hobby Frontline Hobbies had a huge stall with models for sale, which was great if inspiration struck you to build something as you walked around the displays.

A second had stall selling deceased estates was doing a good trade in model kits for anyone looking for some older models at a cheaper price.

Tools and accessories were available from Tinkering Tools, who had a large
range of high-quality products for sale.

If you got hungry, the NJC has its cafe operating and coffee snacks and meals were available

Parking was excellent on site and free, which was great and the walking distance to the fair was very short.

The entry fee of $10 each was good value for a few hours of entertainment and profits were donated to Benwerrin Rural Fire Service, so a good cause was supported too.

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

Our photos are available for purchase on

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Sydney Bus Museum

AEC Roadmaster 1708 Sydney Bus Museum Australia

Sydney Bus Museum

About The Museum

The Sydney Bus Museum is a not-for-profit organisation first established in 1986 at Tempe, and now permanently based within the Old Tramshed at Leichhardt in Sydney’s inner-west.

It is a working museum made up of over 250 members who together help to preserve a rare, and invaluable collection of historic buses dating from the 1920s to 1980s.

How to Get to the Sydney Bus Museum

We caught the light rail from Central Station getting off at North Leichhardt. From here it’s a short walk to the Museum. As you walk along City West Link Road you will see gaps in the noise reduction barriers. Take the second of these into the roads behind and you will find the museum 100m up the road

The Museum’s Collection

The Sydney Bus Museum’s collection consists of over 70 vehicles ranging from primitive 1920s type buses, through to 1940s and 50s Leyland’s and AEC’s as well as the more modern 1980s Mercedes-Benz city buses. The Museum also houses Australia’s largest collection of historic double deckers, including those from Sydney, Adelaide and London.

The museum’s collection is impressive and they are well laid out in the old workshop building. Many are open for inspection and you are able to enter them although usually only in the passenger areas not the driver’s position . This is great as you get to experience what it was like to ride inside the busses.

  • Canberra AEC Regal III 60160 Sydney Bus Museum Australia
    Canberra AEC Regal III 60160
  • AEC Roadmaster 1708 Sydney Bus Museum Australia
    AEC Roadmaster 1708
  • Albion Venturer CX19W 1892 Sydney Bus Museum Australia
    Albion Venturer CX19W 1892
  • Bedford 100 Sydney Bus Museum Australia
    Bedford 100
  • Dennis Lancet II 1492 Sydney Bus Museum Australia
    Dennis Lancet II 1492
  • Leyland OPS2 2599 Sydney Bus Museum Australia
    Leyland OPS2 2599
  • AEC REGENT- 1694 Sydney Bus Museum Australia
    AEC REGENT- 1694
  • Albion Venturer Type 80 1187 Sydney Bus Museum Australia
    Albion Venturer Type 80 1187
  • Leyland OPS2 2599 Sydney Bus Museum Australia
    Leyland OPS2 2599
  • Sydney Bus Museum Australia
    Pioneer Coaches AEC Reliance 634

There is an excellent gift shop selling bus related souvenirs as well as cold drinks.

Bus Trips

On open days the museum runs one of its busses into Sydney. The price of the trip is included with the entrance ticket. An excellent experience for anyone interested in old busses or wants to try something different.

For a photo gallery showing more of the museum’s collection, click here.

Our photos are available for purchase on

For other interesting places to visit in Sydney, please read some of our other stories.

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Bathurst

1984 Holden Commodore VK National Motor Racing Museum Bathurst New South Wales

Bathurst New South Wales

We drove to Bathurst New South Wales from Lithgow, after visiting the Abercrombie Caves The main reason for our visit was to see the National Motor Racing Museum at Mount Panorama. While in the town, we took the opportunity to look around and experience what the town had to offer.

We stayed at the Quality Hotel Bathurst, which was clean and comfortable, with friendly staff.  Breakfast was including with our stay and was delicious and filling. For dinner, we went to the Bathurst RSL, where we had a great meal at a good price.

Abercrombie House

Abercrombie House located on the outskirts of Bathurst gives the visitor an insight into the life of the rich. Open to the public, to help fund its upkeep, cost of the interior is accessible. Ample parking is available on the grounds in front of the house.

The father of the current owner spent time in China and the decorations reflect this. We were fortunate that the owner was there during our visit, and he spoke about the origin of some of the decorations and furniture on display.

You are free to wander around the house, but are asked not to enter closed doors or pass through roped off areas.

The exterior of the house and surrounding garden make an interesting addition to the building A  collection of old cars rusting in one field and an old blacksmith’s barn being worth seeing.  Went beyond our expectations.

  • Abercrombie House Bathurst NSW Australia
    Abercrombie House

Chifley Home

This house was the residence of Ben Chifley and his wife Elizabeth from 1914 until his death in 1951 and hers in 1962. The house has been maintained as a museum since 1973 as a memorial to the late Prime Minister and his family.

Interesting from an historical point of view, we only looked at the outside, but guided tours are available at limited days and times if you are interested.

  • Chifley Home Bathurst NSW Australia
    Chifley Home

Court House

This heritage listed court house on Russel Street is a very impressive building designed by James Barnet. Opened in 1880, and still in use it can be best viewed from across Russel Street in Kings Parade where the whole facade can be seen. Next door is the Conservatory of Music, so we heard classical music while we looked at the court house!

  • Bathurst Court House NSW Australia
    Bathurst Court House

George Evans Expedition Statue

Located at the George Street end of Kings Parade, this large monument commemorates George Evans, the first European to survey the area. In addition, the local aboriginal people who assisted him in his journey are also commemorated.

This is a large and impressive monument and celebrates the founding of Australia’s first large inland town.

  • George Evans Expedition Statue Bathurst NSW Australia
    George Evans Expedition Statue

Machattie Park

We parked here for a walk through the city centre and relaxed under the shady trees while we had lunch. There are some lovely trees and plenty of places to sit in the shade and relax. Very popular with both tourists and locals.  Great place to visit and relax.

  • Fountain in Machattie Park Bathurst NSW Australia
    Fountain in Machattie Park

National Motor Racing Museum

The National Motor Racing Museum is probably the largest draw card for Bathurst, outside of the main race held there annually. The collection of racing cars and bikes is impressive and any motor sports fan could spend hours here.

The range of racing cars is extensive and includes utes, touring cars, F1, rally and even a solar powered car. The Bathurst 1000 has a section to itself, with Ford on one side and Holden on the other.  The other makes are also present, with Jaguar and others represented.

There is a small section with the busts of famous winners and a history of the race.

There is also an impressive collection of motorbikes and rally cars and a good selection of old open wheel racers.

Many of the exhibits are loan and rotated regularly, so it’s worth checking if there is a particular vehicle you want to see. 

  • Peter Brock Memorial National Motor Racing Museum Bathurst New South Wales
    Peter Brock Memorial
  • Holden VU/VY Commodore National Motor Racing Museum Bathurst New South Wales
    Holden VU/VY Commodore
  • Commodore VR National Motor Racing Museum Bathurst New South Wales
    Commodore VR
  • Holden VY Commodore National Motor Racing Museum Bathurst New South Wales
    Holden VY Commodore
  • 1984 Holden Commodore VK National Motor Racing Museum Bathurst New South Wales
    1984 Holden Commodore VK
  • Jaguar XJ-S National Motor Racing Museum Bathurst New South Wales
    Jaguar XJ-S
  • 1951 George Reed Special National Motor Racing Museum Bathurst New South Wales
    1951 George Reed Special
  • 1963 Ford Cortina GT National Motor Racing Museum Bathurst New South Wales
    1963 Ford Cortina GT
  • Motor Bike Collection 1984 Holden Commodore VK National Motor Racing Museum Bathurst New South Wales
    Motor Bike Collection
  • National Motor Racing Museum Bathurst New South Wales
    National Motor Racing Museum
  • Rally Car 1984 Holden Commodore VK National Motor Racing Museum Bathurst New South Wales
    Rally Car
  • 1988 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS 500 National Motor Racing Museum Bathurst New South Wales
    1988 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS 500

Railway Station

The railway station is a beautiful old building not far from the Chifley Home. Parking is easy because it has its own huge car park. Outside the station building is a preserved steam train, locomotive 5112.  Nice to be able to get up close and have a really good lock at this huge train.

  • Locomotive 5112 Bathurst Railway Station Bathurst NSW Australai
    Locomotive 5112

South African War Memorial

The Boer War memorial stands at the southern end of Kings Parade, not far from the Carillon.

  • Boer War Memorial Bathurst NSW Australia
    Boer War Memorial

St Stanislavsky College

The towers of this college are visible from many places in Bathurst, so we drove over to see it close up. An interesting building to look at, but we simply took a photo and moved on.

  • St Stanislavsky College Bathurst NSW Australia
    St Stanislavsky College

Uniting Church

We saw this old church from Machattie Park, so spent a few minutes checking it out and took a picture.

  • Bathurst Uniting Church NSW Australia
    Bathurst Uniting Church

War Memorial Carillon

The Bathurst War Memorial Carillon is a 30.5 metre tall tower structure located in the centre of Kings Parade, in the centre of Bathurst’s CBD. A memorial to the soldiers who lost their lives in the two World Wars, the 35 cast bronze bells are rung daily at lunchtime. The picture really does not do it justice, it does look great, and you can have a close look from the outside to the inside.  Definitely worth a look. 

  • Corellen Bathurst NSW Australla
    Corellen

What Did We Think of Bathurst?

So, if you are visiting Bathurst New South Wales for a race meeting, or the National Motor Racing Museum, spend some time in town. There is a lot to see and do.

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