Inaugural Canberra Rally

September 2026

Photos by Syd Reinhardt and Jock Granger

Below the gallery of photos is a wonderfully, detailed report from Paul Harrison, detailing what was clearly a very successful Rally. A big thanks to our Canberra Organisers.

An expression of interest notice came up at the end of April for this event. It sounded interesting, a nice time of the year and I hadn’t been to Canberra for some time. So an early registration was sent off to Paul Doherty the Organiser in Canberra.

Confirmation the event was going ahead along with accommodation options including some event highlights started coming along in June. We were on our way, with anticipation building over the coming few months. Plenty of time to prepare and check over our car, a 1968 MGB-GT. 

Fortunately, the Monday 14th September rally start date coincided with the ALL BRITISH DAY event at Clarendon (Richmond) on Sunday 13th September. So we were able to fit this event in as well. An overnight stay in Mittagong on Sunday, meeting up with Don Young and Jock Granger in Goulburn the following Monday morning for the onward drive together, to Canberra.

The conveniently located EAST hotel was the “event HQ”, and we checked in there in the afternoon. Easy secure parking was a bonus. An informal “meet and greet” and a dinner later that evening at the same Hotel provided a wonderful opportunity to meet others.

A very wide range of vehicles were registered. Around 18 with 30 participants, as per the following list. Several participants drove some distance. Notably the Wilson’s with their “Citroen” from Brisbane and the Blackmore’s with their “Bentley” from Gunnedah. During the evening we received our well-prepared rally program and instructions. Peter Hosking (Bristol 603) gave an interesting presentation on Bristol Cars and his previous ACEA, currently undergoing a restoration.

TUESDAY 15 September

Cars formed up at a nearby sports field following a 9.00am morning briefing at the East Hotel on the day’s program and drive of approx. 135km. Our first destination was approx. 30km to The Tulip Farm, Old Federal Hwy. Sutton via the Monaro and Federal Highways. Easy parking and a wonderful large display of flowers and tulips. FLORIADE without the crowds. 

Next on to lunch at 4 Winds Winery approx. 40km via the Old Federal Hwy, Shingle Hill Way to Murrumbateman. We have the roads to ourselves; the weather and conditions are perfect for driving.

After lunch we head back into the ACT after being in NSW via the Barton Highway to Hall to visit Ron Hartshorns Car and Machinery Collection a distance of about 25km. Ron is on an elevated rural property. A very large new (moved here 11 years ago) shed where he has an eclectic mix of older vehicles, garage ephemera and oil engines. He claims the items find him! A large collection of famous FURPHY from Shepperton water tanks.

Retuning to Canberra in our MG we miss a turn off in the traffic and “witness” the new light rail (advised to avoid) construction in the CBD. All roads or roundabouts in Canberra “lead to Rome”, we find our way to the Hotel, eventually. 

WEDNESDAY 16th September

In essence, a free day with only one planned activity, no briefing and a late morning gathering at Ollies Garage in Fyshwick, a distance of around 5km from the East Hotel.  Ian Oliver the owner has a collection of Classic and Vintage cars on display at his surgically clean facility. His collection on display is on rotation with other cars owned by him that are in storage elsewhere.

Ian gave us a presentation on early motor racing events and circuits around Canberra plus an introduction to his online activity and Sir Henery Royce Foundation work. Our visit ended around noon.

Some members decided to attend FLORIADE, we along with others decided to have lunch at the War Memorial. We were particularly interested in visiting the new extension. A visit is well worthwhile. It is sympathetically integrated into the existing without being overpowering. Access and parking are very easy. Allow plenty of time, as there is much to take in.

THURSDAY 17 September

Our final day. With a 9.00am morning briefing on the day’s drive of approx. 100km complete, cars departed East Hotel around 9.30am for the National Arboretum, a distance of around 10km, passing Scrivener Dam and Canberra Zoo, with some remnants of peak-hour Canberra traffic fortunately heading in the opposite direction.

We had this area to ourselves, with commanding views out over Lake Burley Griffin and Parliament House below. Photos taken we departed at the appointed 10.20am for our next stop Tidbinbilla Deep Space Communication Complex some 40km away, passing the Mount Stromlo Observatory and Cotter Dam.

Again we had this fine driving route all to ourselves, certainly not the case during the weekends, I was told. We arrived at the space facility car park and were ushered first to an outside area for an introductory brief, then inside to a visitor area and auditorium for our private talk question/answer session. The CSIRO manage and operate this NASA facility, one of three similar installations, the others being in Spain and the USA. It is tracking and communicating with civilian space craft.

Importantly, the Honeysuckle Creek “dish” has been relocated here and is on display near the car park. It is non-functional now, but for those interested, please read the book “Honeysuckle Creek” by Andrew Tink for the vital role this “DISH” played during the APOLLO moon program.

We were all surprised to learn that it was human space travel that gave us the zip lock plastic bag. If you're curious, ask one of the participants why. And here I was thinking it was only non-stick TEFLON.

Lunch was our next stop at the historic 1839 Cuppacumbalong Homestead some 25km away near the village of Tharwa on the Murrumbidgee River. The property also incorporates the “Tharwa Valley Forge” a fabrication facility providing student tuition in metal work. After lunch we were given a tour and spoke to some of the students. A 30km return trip back to Canberra had us passing the nearby National Trust’s historic Lanyon Homestead. 

The 2026 Canberra Rally concluded with a dinner at the popular and convenient Kingston, opposite our East Hotel. Rees Mackay spoke on behalf of all and thanked the Rally Organisers for putting on a wonderful event. Peter Hoskins spoke of the importance of such an event to the club.  Congratulations to all, no one lost and no DNF, I think.

Paul Harrison.