Volunteers of the Sir Henry Royce Foundation Australia are always welcome. If you are interested in volunteering at one of our locations: Rowville VIC, or Coolum QLD, or Fyshwick ACT, please contact us. Foundation Volunteers Interested in volunteering at one of our locations - Rowville VIC - or - Coolum QLD - or Fyshwick ACT - Please email us: chair@henryroycefoundation.com SHRF Volunteers. These are our very important people. Bills Allsep House – Archives Geoff Down – Archivist David MacArthur John Reis Howard Wraight Terry Harris Lionel Gell School of Instruction Peter Jordan-Hill History Consultant David Neely Canberra Showroom RROCA ACT members and friends of Tina and Ian Oliver Coolum Showroom Keith Wilson Col Smith Iain Davidson Chris Cantor Website Manager Shay Gillings Volunteers Dec 24 Left to Right: David MacArthur, Terry Harris, Howard Wraight, Russell Rolls, Geoff Down, John Reis Coolum Volunteers Peter Jordan-Hill Peter Jordan-Hill Volunteer at Lionel Gell School of Instruction Volunteers Dec 24 Left to Right: David MacArthur, Terry Harris, Howard Wraight, Russell Rolls, Geoff Down, John Reis 1/7

Fred Engish Photography Award Winners

Fred Engish Photography Award Winners

Rolls-Royce 20hp Name Plates as found at the Sir Henry Royce Foundation Australia. 20hp Name Plates 1/1

Photographic archives of all things connected to Sir Henry Royce and his engineering history. Photo Gallery These photos are a just a tiny selection from our extensive archives. ** Click on the photos below to view the full gallery of photos. Sir Henry Royce Plaque Located at Derby. 5VF155 Taken during the visit of the King of Nepal in 1971 is 5VF155 with registration ZSF-570. Note the Crown above the number plate is covered. Photo courtesy of National Archives of Australia Sir Henry Royce Memorial Window Located in Westminster Abbey is a memorial window for Sir Frederick Henry Royce, engineer and car designer. Designed by Sir J. Ninian Comper It was unveiled by Lord Kindersley, chairman of Rolls-Rolls Ltd., on 23rd October 1962. The inscription at the base reads: In memory of Frederick Henry Royce O.B.E. Baronet, Engineer. Born 1863. Died 1933. Sir Henry Royce Plaque Located at Derby. 1/13

The Sir Henry Royce Foundation, Australia has the bulk of their archives held in Victoria, Australia. These archives can be used for research. The Archives can be viewed by appointment. Foundation Archives - VIC To download the current register of Australian Archives please click HERE . Updated May 2024. To contact the Sir Henry Royce Foundation Archivists, please click HERE to email. The Archive Register is a list of donated items and property held by the Sir Henry Royce Foundation - Australia. The purpose of this Register is to properly record, and maintain, a list of all items donated to, and acquired by, the Sir Henry Royce Foundation, Australia (SHRFA). It provides for donors’ names to be recorded and each item numbered, identified, described, categorised and valued. Items acquired by the Foundation are included in the Register under the category of Property. Every item will bear a unique Accession Number which will consist of a Code Letter followed by a chronological Item Number and in some cases a Sub Number where a particular donation contains a number of separate items. The Accession Number will be written on the item or attached to the item on a sticker. A reminder of the Research Prize for use of the Archive Register - please click HERE for the entry form. SHRF - Royce solenoid (as told by Gibert Ralph) Play Video Our Oldest Archive Watch Now Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Share Channel Info Close

Miscellaneous The following photo gallery are miscellaneous items designed by (and sometime also made by) Sir Henry Royce. These items are not in the SHRF collection - we thought you might be interested to have a look. In Sir Henry Royce's home Brae Cottage, in Knutsford, Cheshire - the light switches and doors were all designed by Sir Henry Royce. They are still in Brae Cottage today. In Sir Henry Royce's home Brae Cottage, in Knutsford, Cheshire - the light switches and doors were all designed by Sir Henry Royce. They are still in Brae Cottage today. 1/1 A Brace of Phantom V's Præclarvm 5-17, page 7245 David Neely, the Foundation's NSW Historical Consultant, tells of the service of the 2 SHRF Phantoms in the Commonwealth Government fleet. A Selection of Cars from Queensland Præclarvm 5-17, page 7254 Gilbert Ralph, the SHRF Honorary Archivist, delves in to the photo archives for Queensland cars. A Brace of Cars from South Australia Præclarvm 6-16, page 7074 In this two-page spread some of the Archive’s photos of South Australian members' cars of the past are featured. Researchers visit the Archive Præclarvm 5-16, page 7037 In this edition the Honorary Archivist gives details of a group of motoring researchers who visited the Archive to tap the information in the historic material it holds. As well there is an article on materials the Archive was given at the 2016 RROCA Federal Rally in Bendigo. A Brace of Cars from Western Australia Præclarvm 5-16, pages 7038 In this two page spread some of the Archive's photos of Western Australia members' cars of the past are featured. The Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Præclarvm 4-16, pages 7002 Following the 2-16 edition of Bentley's in the immediate post-war period, displayed here are the Rolls-Royce offerings from 1947 when the Silver Wraith was introduced. These early cars were mostly recognised from their use of Lucas P.100 and R.100 headlamps, and radiator mounted ahead of the front axle centreline, the latter common to only two pre-World War Two Rolls-Royce types: the 25/30hp Wraith and Phantom III. The Bentley MkVI Præclarvm 2-16, pages 6930 Here the Honorary Archivist displays several of the special bodied examples of the Bentley Mk VI model that were available in the immediate post-war period. The photos were provided by the coachbuilders to enable customers to select from the range of special bodies available. Amy Johnson’s Rolls-Royce Identified Præclarvm 1-16, pages 6900 Here the Honorary Archivist recounts how in Issue 4-15 of Præclarvm, p6779, he contributed an article about Amy Johnson in which it was suggested that the Silver Ghost she was riding in was 65LK and asked if any reader was able to confirm that. But immediate response from two members corrected that Chassis Number to 34YG, which leads to an interesting history of that motor car. Charles Sykes Revisited Præclarvm 1-16, pages 6892 The Foundation’s Honorary Archivist describes the recent donation of a figurine of Charles Sykes. The Spirit; Celebrating 75 Years of the Rolls-Royce Motor Car Præclarvm 6-15, pages 6858 This book of 24 pages features water colour scenes of Rolls-Royce motor cars being enjoyed by owners in the years 1904 to 1979. The book includes an Introduction by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu who describes early motoring and his love of Rolls-Royce motor cars, lamenting ‘there are too many of them. Part 2 of a 2 part selection of the water colours. Amy Johnson and Rolls-Royce Præclarvm 4-15, page 6779 The Honorary Archivist of the Foundation describes finding, in a collection of newspaper cuttings, the attached coloured picture featuring a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost carrying Amy Johnson around the Geelong Racecourse. The search is then on to identify the car. The Sir Henry Royce Foundation Archive and You Præclarvm 2-15, pages 6710 - 6713 The Honorary Archivist of the Foundation describes how the Collection Policy of the Foundations is achieved through the ‘collection, documentation and exhibiting of any objects whatsoever illustrating or connected with the science of mechanical engineering and especially related to the work of Sir Henry Royce.’ James Young Body Photos from the John Bull Collection Præclarvm 1-15, page 6678 Following on from Præclarvm 6-14, this edition shows photos from James Young Ltd body designs from the late 1940s through to 1965. Hooper Body Photos from the John Bull Collection Præclarvm 6-14, page 6642 Recently donated to the Foundation was material from the collection of the late John Bull, a member of the RROCA, South Australia Branch. Shown here is a selection of photos sent to him in 1967 by the then Managing Director of Hooper & Co (Bodybuilders) Ltd, Osmond F. Rivers. The Angas Family and Their Pre-War Motor Cars Præclarvm 4-14, page 6567 / Præclarvm 5-14, page 6605 The Angas family are a well-known and respected family of pastoralists descended from George Fife Angas, who became Chairman and a major shareholder of The South Australian Company. In 1909 Charles H. Angas was the first person to import a Rolls-Royce into South Australia, and he and his three sons, Ronald, Dudley and Keith, all became enthusiastic motorists. This photograph album highlights their choices in exotic cars. The Barr Smiths and their Proper Motor Cars Præclarvm 2-14, page 6486 Over three generations, the Barr Smith family of South Australia had at least 24 Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars, which may well place them in the category of the most prolific owners/users of those two marques in Australia.. Claude Mason and his Cars Præclarvm 1-14, page 6462 Members and visitors to Bill Allsep House will admire the unique models of a Silver Ghost and a 20hp on display amongst the Foundation‘s collection. Both 2-metre-long models are the work of one man: the late Claude Mason. A selection of photographs from David Shmith Præclarvm 3-13, page 6310 Here are photographs of particular interest because of their Australian content. They were donated by David Shmith, former Managing Director of York Motors in Sydney. David’s father, Maurice Shmith, joined Tarrant Motors in 1904 as a car washer, and by 1910 he was Sales Manager. With some partners he established Yellow Cabs in 1924, and in 1932 he was instrumental in the formation of York Motors, Sydney, of which he was Managing Director until succeeded by his son, David. Do you have an Australian Body? Præclarvm 2-13, page 6280 If you are a lucky owner of a body built by one of the 83 known Australian coachbuilders who have designed and constructed coachwork on Rolls-Royce or Bentley motors cars in Australia, and you want to know more about the firm in question, this article may have something of interest to you. One man’s contribution to the SHRF Archive Præclarvm 6-12, page 6209 One of the functions of the Sir Henry Royce Foundation, Australia, is to collect anything related to Sir Henry Royce. The Archive is the repository of the Foundation’s collection, and attendees at meetings of the Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club, Victoria Branch, have the opportunity to see some of the larger items on display in the meeting room. Others who venture into the Archive itself see very little apart from a vast collection of archive boxes stored neatly on the rows of shelving. The most recent of these contains a small selection of the hundreds of items donated by one man: David Neely. James Radley beats a train from London to Monte Carlo Præclarvm 5-12, page 6172 James Radley (1884-1959), the English adventurer, shared a passion for ballooning, flying and motor racing with the Hon. Charles Rolls. But unlike Rolls he survived his numerous exploits and died an old man. Radley competed in the Austrian Alpine Trials of 1912, 1913 and 1914 in three different Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts; 1930E, 2206E and 18PB respectively. He was successful in the latter two events – but that is another story which will no doubt be featured during 2013, the centenary of his first success. There is however a lesser-known motoring event for which he received notoriety in November 1913: he broke the speed record for motoring between London and Monte Carlo in a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, 2521, a 1913 model with a light tourer body fashioned by his own Portholme Coach Works business in Huntingdon, UK.

Sir Henry Royce Foundation (Australia). Created to preserve the heritage of the past in relation to items manufactured by Rolls-Royce and Bentley, the history of the Founders and all printed material relating to the Company’s automobiles and aircraft engines. The Sir Henry Royce Foundation The evolving role of Henry Royce engineering. Enter Site

SHRF Trustees Brian Crump FRSA (Chairman) Brian Crump is a member of the RROCA and of the RREC and RROC as well as the Royal Automobile Club of Australia. He is a past President of the RROCA NSW Branch Inc., and is passionate about all types of mechanical devices that demonstrate excellence. Brian’s favourite possession is his 1933 Phantom II Continental sports saloon with body by J Gurney Nutting. He is fascinated by the history of motoring in Australia and enjoys nothing more than engaging in a long run in the Australian bush. Brian is engaged in International Education at the tertiary level and holds post-graduate degrees in philosophy. Chairman : chair@henryroycefoundation.com Russell Rolls Russell Rolls is a professional mechanical engineer with a life-time interest in engineering heritage. He has been a member of the RROCA, the RREC and the RROC Inc for over 50 years. He is a regular participant in classic and historic car events both in Australia and internationally. He is a former Federal President of the RROCA, a former President of the Victoria Branch of the RROCA and is an Honorary Life Member of the RROCA. Russell held the position of Chair of SHRF for eleven years, 2011 to 2022. Clare Gordon Clare Gordon is a member of RROCA and RREC. Actively associated with supporting the servicing, maintenance and sales of Rolls-Royce motor cars, her firm is the only Australian member of the Rolls-Royce and Bentley Specialists Association (RRBSA). Clare is passionate about the engineering and design excellence which is the undeniable thread that runs through all aspects of Sir Henry Royce’s pursuits. Her exposure to the Trades has resulted in a strong, practical commitment to supporting the recognition and transfer of knowledge and skills which capture the craftsmanship and culture that is Sir Henry Royce. Dr Howard Wraight Dr Howard Wraight is a medical doctor with an extensive career in pharmaceutical medicine and clinical research. He is a past President of the RROCA (Victoria Branch) and a long standing member of the RREC, the RROC Inc as well as the 20-Ghost Club. Howard is a passionate admirer of Sir Henry Royce and his dedication to engineering excellence and also the history of the Rolls-Royce Company. He has a keen interest in the Foundation archives and is dedicated to see the SHRF fulfill its objectives.. Frank Carroll Frank Carroll is a retired Solicitor in Queensland, with decades of work in charities and community organisations enriching our society. Now the custodian of several Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars, he is a member of the RREC(UK) and serves in the Queensland Branch of RROCA, where he is Chief Judge. Inspired by the engineering genius of Charles Rolls, W.O. Bentley and especially Sir Henry Royce, Frank is keen to see this Foundation fulfill its objectives, with an active presence in Queensland at the "Coolum Showroom" since October 2018. Wallace Moorhouse Wallace Moorhouse is a Foundation Member of the Queensland Branch (1969). Served on Branch Committee including periods as President, Secretary, Treasurer and Registrar. Assisted in organising several Annual Federal Rallies in Queensland and participated in most “Overlander” runs since 1997. Served as Federal Delegate on numerous occasions. Served as Federal Secretary from 2009 to 2014. Honorary Life Member 2007. Established the Current Federal Member and Car Database in 2010 and been Federal Database Administrator since and assisted in preparation of Chassis Plate. Ian Oliver Ian is a long-time member of RROCA ACT and brings an accounting and commercial background to the SHRF. Ian is currently the treasurer of RROCA Ltd. Ian’s has a serious interest in motoring and includes many different unique makes and models in his collection. His first Bentley was a 1951 Bentley Mk VI bought over twenty years ago and from that time onwards his passion for Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars grew to be a passion. Ian became a Trustee of the SHRF in 2024 and has also established the SHRF Canberra Showroom in Fyshwick ACT along with a display of his other makes in Ollies’ Garage. Ian and Tina Oliver are truly committed to the engineering excellence of Sir Henry and Ian has a particular interest in the past history and provenance of Rolls-Royce motor cars. In 2018 Ian shipped his Bentley Mark VI Park Ward Drophead Coupe to the UK for the RREC Rally and won much acclaim for its outstanding presentation. In Memoriam June 2021: Malcolm Johns was an initial Founding Trustee. Malcolm died in Sydney on 8/6/21. His legal knowledge and advice was instrumental for the Foundation's structure in 1996 and he remained a Trustee for eighteen years - read more.... Please CLICK HERE to read our list of past Trustees.

Information held by the Sir Henry Royce Foundation (Australia) on Walter Owen Bentley. Walter Owen Bentley Born: 16 September 1888, Hampstead, England Died: 13 August 1971 (aged 82), Woking, England Nationality: English Occupation: Engineer In 1931 Rolls-Royce acquired Bentley, the small sports/racing car maker and potential rival, after the latter's finances failed to weather the onset of the Great Depression. Rolls-Royce stopped production of the new big Bentley 8 Litre, which was threatening sales of their current Phantom, disposed of remaining Bentley assets and made use of just the Bentley name and its repute. After some years of development Rolls-Royce produced a new quite different ultra-civilised medium-size range of Bentleys advertising them as "the silent sports car". They were very much in the Rolls-Royce mould. From soon after World War II until 2002 standard Bentley and Rolls-Royce cars were often very nearly identical apart from the radiator grille and minor details. Interesting snippets .... The famous “Winged B” hood ornament was designed with forgers in mind. As a counter to the red-hot faux hood ornament market, there’s actually a different number of feathers on each side, in the hopes that forgers wouldn’t notice. Headquartered in Crewe, England, the company was founded as Bentley Motors Limited by W. O. Bentley in 1919 in Cricklewood, North London—and became widely known for winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, and 2003. Woolf Barnato was a wealthy playboy who raced cars for fun. He ran at Le Man three times, winning all three, then took over as CEO from W.O. Bentley after Rolls-Royce took over the company. Rolls-Royce took over the assets of Bentley Motors (1919) Ltd and formed a subsidiary, Bentley Motors (1931) Ltd. Rolls-Royce had acquired the Bentley showrooms in Cork Street, the service station at Kingsbury, the complex at Cricklewood and the services of Bentley himself. Bentley had neglected to register their trademark so Rolls-Royce immediately did so. They also sold the Cricklewood factory in 1932. Production stopped for two years, before resuming at the Rolls-Royce works in Derby. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the resulting Great Depression throttled the demand for Bentley's expensive motor cars. On 10 July 1931 a receiver was appointed. The British Central Equitable Trust made a winning sealed bid of £125,000. British Central Equitable Trust later proved to be a front for Rolls-Royce Limited. In 1934 Barnato was appointed to the board of the new Bentley Motors (1931) Ltd. Until some time after World War II, most high-end motorcar manufacturers like Bentley and Rolls-Royce did not supply complete cars. They sold rolling chassis, near-complete from the instrument panel forward. Each chassis was delivered to the coach builder of the buyer's choice. The biggest specialist car dealerships had coachbuilders build standard designs for them which were held in stock awaiting potential buyers. All Bentleys produced from 1931 to 2004 used inherited or shared Rolls-Royce chassis, and adapted Rolls-Royce engines, and are described by critics as badge-engineered Rolls-Royces. W. O. Bentley was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1995. " . . . In the eyes of those who own, have owned, or aspire to own, one of the 3,040 Bentley cars designed and built by the 'old' Bentley company under the leadership of "W. O." he was admired and respected—indeed, I think, loved is not too strong a word—for to know his cars was to know him. During his working life "W. O." suffered a series of ups and downs which might have broken a lesser man. It certainly marked him and it was a disillusioned "W. O." I first met 25 years ago [1946]. . . . "W. O." has said that the pleasure he derived in the post-war years from Club activities; from making new friends among its members; and from seeing the loving care bestowed upon 'his' cars has more than compensated for all his earlier disappointments." "The six years during which I worked for "W. O." were a period of education and pleasure. His modesty, lack of pretension, mental honesty and reasonableness endeared him to those in contact with him, and his over-riding interest in the improvement of the car provided the education in a period which included the post-war 2 1⁄2-litre Lagonda development, schemes for 4 and 8 cylinder derivatives, for the pursuit of shorter strokes in engines, for a small transverse-engined front wheel drive car and for a performance engine for the Morris Minor in place of the 850cc side valve engine it then endured. Though normally of reflective habit his experience showed him when swift action was necessary, and he could be very determined in pursuing it. Big enough to admit mistakes when they had occurred, he also knew when to modify and when to start afresh in remedying them. It is a pity that circumstances prevented his influence on car development from being greater than it was. Though motoring and motor cars were his life he retained a keen interest in locomotives." Mr Donald Bastow.