Vintage Show Steams Ahead Again

Steve Hood’s 1920s Case traction steam engine always turns heads at vintage machinery rallies

September 27, 2025

The focus was on Caterpillar machinery at last weekend’s Kingaroy & District Vintage Machinery Club Rally.

The famous American marque began life in 1925 when competitors Charles Holt and Daniel Best merged their competing companies, so the 100th anniversary provided a good reason to celebrate a brand which has made such an impact on Australia over the past century.

There were bright yellow Caterpillars from the across the years lined up on display at Butwell Park, near Kingaroy Airport, as well as a very special, very limited edition 2025 100th anniversary D3 decked out in Caterpillar’s one-off “Centennial Grey” colour.

Caterpillars led the three Grand Parades across the weekend and also featured in the “slow tractor” races which are always a popular part of the annual event.

All the other popular rally attractions were also on show, including stationary engines chugging away, tractor pulls, balance challenges and demonstrations of various types of farming equipment.

The rally is a true family day, with many tractors being driven by teenagers eager to show off equipment collected on farms across generations.

But it wasn’t all about Caterpillars or all about tractors … there was also a big car display, historic and modern trucks and stalls that visitors could browse.

Glenda and Edward Murray, from the Rum City Vintage Machinery Club at Bundaberg, brought along their working stationary engines

Ken and Barry Paulin, from Toowoomba, were looking over some of the old trucks on display

Barry Byrne, from Oakey, was in his usual position behind the microphone, sharing his incredible knowledge of tractors and farming machinery

Volunteers from the Kingaroy State School P&C were working hard in the canteen!

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Baling Demonstration

The hay baling demonstration involved raking, baling and then collecting the bales.

Col Roberts drove a Massey-Ferguson tractor powering a side delivery rake which pushed the rhodes grass into windrows.

Noel Gerchow drove an International powering the McCormick bailer, while Steve and Ashley Roberts were handling the pick-up of the bales which were being loaded into a vintage Ferguson tipping trailer.

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Photo Gallery

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Grand Parade

This slideshow of photos is for enthusiasts only! (no sound)

Kingaroy, Tourism

One Response to "Vintage Show Steams Ahead Again"

Last Of The Time Lords says:

September 29, 2025 at 5:51 am

I LOVE this event. I have only missed one over the years. What a wonderful display of tractors of all makes. I saw two rare Farmall Cubs plus many fabulous Fergies (including that magnificent 135 that was in the hay-making demo) but the most poignant was a TEA 20, named *Bruce* after the fellow who was restoring it was killed in a car accident, and his brother completed the job, and then named the tractor for him.

There was even a 100-year-old Caterpillar dozer, the same age as their centenary! I also saw an amazing boat-tail Chrysler car, nearly as old.. 99 years!

Thank you for the photos. I see you got a Camaro in there for me. *smiles*