By Callum Ludwig
Mont De Lancey Historic Homestead’s Draught Horse and YesterYear festival is coming up on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 February.
Organised by the Yarra Valley Machinery Preservation Society, the day is set to feature draught horses at work on the homestead, as well as stationary engines, chainsaw carving, blacksmiths, wood turners, vintage cars and motorcycles and food and market stalls.
Event Coordinator Lewis Carlton said there will be a variety of different exhibits to enjoy.
“There’ll be a cooper working, who makes old-style wooden barrels, the Hand Tool Preservation Society with various styles of old tools, a big display of miniature sewing machines and a ma with a display of vintage kerosene lanterns,” he said.
“We’ve got to keep this stuff in existence for the future generations to see, otherwise it will be harder to understand how it was built, how it was used rather than just looking at it on YouTube which is not the same.”
Sheep shearing also normally would have been involved in the event but won’t be incorporated this year to prevent any spread of foot and mouth disease.
Mr Carlton said people will likely see how much easier parts of life are these days.
“It might also encourage people to look more deeply into it and hopefully encourage more to partake in collecting and restoring this stuff and keeping it in existence further and further,” he said.
“We have numerous members who’ve seen this old stuff and become enthused about it, then join the engine club and been around the club for years and years.”
A large amount of the machinery that will be on display will be from the Wandin area as well, including the very first Massey Ferguson tractor to land on Australian soil.
The event is open from 10am to 4.30pm, tickets are $15 for adults and free for kids under 15.
Tickets can be bought at the gate with cash or EFTPOS available or they can be pre-booked at www.montdelancey.org.au.
