The Story of the Car on the Pole

The Story of the Car on the Pole

The below is an excerpt from the June 2026 Edition of the Museum Musings

by Ken Devine (Motor Museum of Western Australia volunteer)

In 2012 our manager of that time, John McLean, told me that the Museum Board had been given permission from Park Management to erect cars on poles at both entrances to Whiteman Park to advertise the Museum.

John asked me if I knew of any suitable cars available and I suggested Austin A40s. So I made inquiries through the Austin Club, and a member, the late Ken Smith, told me we could have two A40s he had on his property at Meckering. His offer was accepted and Ken delivered them to the Museum. However, by the time we got the cars it was decided that we could only erect one and that was to be at the Beechboro Road entry because of the future redevelopment of the Lord Street entrance. (It took 12 years for this to happen).

Both cars had history to me but the selected one had the best.

This car was previously owned by former early museum volunteer the late Ray Hillbrick, an Austin enthusiast. It seems that nephews of Ray bought the car and he heard them talking about using it for a paddock basher. Ray thought that the car was too good for that so he bought it from them and stored it in a shed on his property in Armadale. It then sat there unused for around 20 years. Thankfully it remained rust free. When Ray passed away in 2011 it was sold to Ken Smith and he took it to his farm in Meckering. (I believe he used it around his property).

We chose this car to place on a pole because it was intact and in the best condition. The other car was given to the VCCC.

The Museum volunteers got to work stripping the car of its mechanical parts. The body was sealed and given a coat of paint which I believe gave some problems. I took the engine and some smaller parts but unfortunately the engine was found to be seized.

The car was erected in 2013 at the Beechboro Road entrance on a specially built pole and a concrete base that had been donated. In 2024 the car had to be removed for the redevelopment of the Beechboro Road entrance and it was stored for a while then bought back to the Museum for refurbishment. This included some rust repairs and a new paint job. It was parked in front of the Museum until it was re-erected in 2025 in its new position.

Over the years it has become quite a landmark.

Photos to come.