One of Australia’s most impressive collections of historic commercial vehicles goes on show in Shepparton with iconic trucks from every era.
Opening in late 2021 and located in Shepparton in Central Victoria, The Museum of Vehicle Evolution (MOVE) is a community based, not-for-profit organisation with a simple mission to create a significant cultural heritage attraction for Shepparton which exhibits the Goulburn Valley region’s rich transport, and social history.
MOVE has a dynamic, ever-changing collection of vehicles on display, including vehicles from the Holden Heritage Collection, and machines from every era of motoring.
As well as the historic and significant trucks and cars, the 6,000 square metre MOVE facility is also home to impressive collections including pre-1900 bicycles, a collection of Harley-Davidson and other motorcycles, and other collectables including the Loel Thomson Clothing Collection which is the most significant single collection of Australian clothing and accessories with 10,000 items of museum quality dating as far back as the first fleet.
Mrs Thomson is the wife of respected local motorsport identity Bryan Thomson who established the Twin City Truck Centre Kenworth dealership in Wodonga in 1979.
The Furphy Museum showcases the 150-year history of one of Australia’s oldest family companies, which still operates in Shepparton, and its iconic water carts.
Shepparton is the heart of the Goulburn Valley, a region of economic importance underpinned by agriculture, food processing and manufacturing and transport.
Shepparton is a natural hub for road transport with nearly one-in-four of all registered Victorian trucks based in the area. Many of the now well-known transport operators based in the region evolved from beginnings in the agricultural industry and delivering to market the produce their families grew.
The $6 million in funding to create MOVE had come from industry, community and support from all three tiers of government.
The driving force behind the original Shepparton Motor Museum and now MOVE has been local businessman and philanthropist Jim Andreadis, along with his wife Angela. Chair of the MOVE Board is Peter Hill, the CEO of Kreskas Brothers Transport.
With sponsorship support from PACCAR, MOVE’s Kenworth Dealer Truck Pavilion features vehicles from some of the legendary transport operators from the Goulburn Valley region.
The local transport operators have committed more than $800,000 to the MOVE project.
The line-up of trucks is not restricted to the Kenworth brand, although there are plenty of examples of Bayswater’s finest on display. Vintage trucks with names such as Foden and Thorneycroft are on show in both restored and unrestored conditions.
The Truck Pavilion is more than a collection of trucks and the displays have been arranged to tell the story of the operators’ lives, their businesses and the trucks they utilised.
There is the opportunity for other historic commercial vehicle owners to place their vehicles on display on a temporary basis. Curator Jade Burley estimates the MOVE museum section will attract 40,000 visitors per year with an expected additional 10,000 visiting various public events, markets, and functions such as truck product launches held at the facility.
