The York Auto Museum in Western Australia. — Photos: SHEELA KANAGASABAI
Nestled in the Avon Valley between Mount Bakewell and Mount Brown in Western Australia, the picturesque town of York is thriving with vibrant scenic attractions. It is considered one of the Australian state’s best-kept secret.
York, 96km east of Perth, is known for its colonial architecture, rich heritage, and gorgeous natural scenery. The 90-minute drive to York from Perth boasts of scenic views with endless fields of farmland along the way.
According to my Australian friend Hoss Wehr, road tripping feeds the soul, so one morning, we decided to venture into a historical town by road. With the strong September sun beaming down on our faces, the rolling landscape was anticipatively exhilarating.
The road unravelled long stretches of eucalyptus or gum trees, olive bush farms and dried bushland, as we departed the highway into the natural beauty of the country side. I made Hoss stop several times to take pictures of horses, cows and merino sheep that lazed under the shade in the glorious fields of canola and wheat.
The reader and her friend, Hoss, with the car featured in one of Australia’s most famous films, Crocodile Dundee. — Photos: SHEELA KANAGASABAI
Many historical buildings and colonial architecture greeted our presence in this heritage precinct when we arrived. These preserved buildings and sites provided charm and character to the town which houses the Town Hall, York Visitor Centre, York Residency Museum, Old Gaoi & Courthouse, and York Motor Museum.
Wildflowers and birdlife compliment the open gardens and there is a wide range of experiences offered to locals and tourists, too, including food and wine festivals, country racing, arts and crafts and more.
At the York Bushland Garden, just a short walk from town, you can find some beautiful wildflowers of multiple colours.
The most captivating and memorable part of the trip was our York Motor Museum visit. Here, there’s a collection of fascinating vintage cars and bikes that have cruised the roads for over 100 years. Open seven days a week, the community-owned (Avon Valley Motor Museum Association) attraction offers senior citizens concessionary entrance fees.
The story of the museum began in the 1970s when Peter Briggs and James Harwood sought a site for their collection of classic cars, and decided that York was the ideal place for this. The York Motor Museum opened in December 1979 and is the oldest and most successful private motor museum operating in Australia.
The museum has three main galleries: Two general areas and one specialising in the history of motorsport. Today, the refurbished museum gives visitors a fascinating look at the history of motoring and transportation, via exhibits of cars, motor bikes and even bicycles.
One of the vintage cars in the museum.
Highlights of the museum include an ante-room with automobilia displays and a period workshop within the galleries. The walls are also covered in historic motorsport posters and signs.
I managed to get up close with various classic cars, race cars, and other vintage automobiles that have been kept in pristine condition. It looked like a great deal of passion was put into the restoration of the collection.
Hoss was also impressed by how the community honoured their shared heritage. Each rustic car had the vehicle’s own unique story or stories related to their owners, and backgrounds.
I really enjoyed my visit, walking around cars of yesteryears, and reflected on the knowledge and immersive learning experience I had acquired. Museums are often described as windows to the past and offer a tangible connection to the vast tapestry of human evolution, achievement and creativity.
I believe that some museums make for good travel destinations, and the York Motor Museum is certainly one of them. I look forward to my next adventure with Hoss!
The views expressed are entirely the reader’s own.
York Town Hall in Western Australia.
