MOVE's Lynne Salau is gearing up for the Florence Thomson Rally at MOVE this weekend.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Men, take a back seat. The women are wielding the wheels on this one.
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Around 100 vehicles dating back to the early 1940s will roll into the Goulburn Valley on Saturday, May 2, all driven by women dressed in full period costume.
It celebrates the pioneering spirit and contribution of women to Australian motoring.
The tour’s namesake, Florence Thomson, was the only female entrant in the Sydney to Melbourne Dunlop Reliability Motor Contest in 1905.
Florence Thomson’s Wolseley bedecked with flowers at the finishing line of the Sydney to Melbourne Dunlop Reliability Motor Contest in February, 1905. Image: Algernon Darge, 1905, Harold Paynting Collection, State Library of Victoria, H99.100/97.
She drove a six-horsepower Wolseley along the 562-mile (around 904km) then dirt track between the two cities to place sixth and become one of only 16 entrants to successfully complete the five-day rally.
The avid explorer, who toured extensively and independently by plane, ship, train, horse, camel, palanquin, and then taught herself to drive a car when they hit the streets in the early 1900s, was also the first woman to drive from Adelaide to Sydney.
The vehicles coming to Shepparton in her honour will range from vintage beauties through to modern classics.
More than 200 people will participate as either drivers or passengers, but entrants can only be women driving a vehicle that is at least 25 years old, and all participants are encouraged to dress to the era of their ride.
“Despite the cost of fuel, key local businesses and the tourist authority have encouraged the tour to continue and we are committed to supporting the local region by bringing something exciting to the Goulburn Valley,” tour director Maureen Ross said.
Men are welcome, but they must only be chauffeured.
Entrants can choose a short or long course, touring Mooroopna, Tatura, Nagambie, Murchison and Toolamba, then on to MOVE at Shepparton.
The longer of the options visits the same places, but in reverse order.
A display of period costume can be found inside the Loel Thomson Clothing Collection exhibition at MOVE to promote the upcoming Florence Thomson Rally in Shepparton.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
“A hundred cars from the 1930s and 1940s and 200 people running around in period costume, it’s one of those exciting things,” MOVE’s Marcus Cook said.
The event is organised by the Association of Motoring Clubs, which aims to support, protect and promote the interests of motoring enthusiasts and member clubs.
Organisers said the tour had made a point of supporting the local communities and community organisations in the areas it visited.
Since 2023, the tour has been carbon neutral, with all carbon emissions offset via the AOMC Carbon offset program.
Locals are invited to MOVE in Kialla on Saturday, May 2, from 11am to 2pm, to see the tour vehicles and talk to participants.
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