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  • Sir Henry Royce Foundation

    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

  • What's On | hrfoundation

    What's on at the Sire Henry Royce Foundation Australia at their Coolum, Canberra and Rowville archives and showrooms. What's On at the Foundation The Sir Henry Royce Foundation celebrates 30 years in 2026. It will be holding a celebratory dinner at the Royal Automobile Club Australia (RACA) in Sydney on 14th November, 2026. Should you wish to join us for this fabulous milestone - please click here to email the Chair of the Foundation Sir Henry Royce Foundation - Australian Head Office Bill Allsep House, 3/18 Laser Drive, Rowville, VIC Bill Allsep House: Our Volunteers & Archivists are back working hard. Lionel Gell School of Instruction Rowville, VIC, To be advised. The SHRF Coolum Showroom 52 Lysaght Street, Coolum, QLD Open on first Saturday of the month from 7am-10am Also open on the first Monday of the month from 9.00am-1.00pm Admission fee is $10 p.p. And at other times by appointment. Cars 'n' Coffee is on the first Saturday morning of each month. Held at the German Bakehouse - across the road from the Foundation Showroom. The Showroom is open during this monthly event. The SHRF Canberra Showroom & Ollies' Garage 72 Gladstone St, Fyshwick ACT Open on first Saturday of the month, 9am - Midday Admission fee is $15 p.p. And at other times by appointment.

  • Awards | hrfoundation

    Awards as held by the Sir Henry Royce Foundation in research, photography, art, engineering and automotive apprentice. Foundation Awards Sir Henry Royce Foundation - Award for Australian Apprentice of the Year The SHRFA wishes to promote excellence in the engineering tradition of Sir Henry Royce by recognizing and annually awarding a current apprentice who demonstrates an outstanding skill-set and attitude and who is currently employed in Australia in the servicing of Rolls-Royce and Bentley products including diesel, aero or commercial engines as well as coachbuilding. The award is $1000 plus name added to the perpetual trophy. Applications close on 30th June 2026 . Click here for current and past winners . Click here for details and information. Click here for the 2026 application form. FJ Engish Award for RROCA Club Members' Photographs of Club Events The name of the Award recognises the photographic contribution to The Foundation of the F. J Engish Photographic Archive, containing some 20,000 photographs of cars and people, particularly of RROCA and Branch events. This Archive was gifted to The Foundation by 50-year RROCA Member Fred Engish who has taken these photographs over his time with the Club. A prize is awarded to the Club Member whose photograph, taken at a Club event during the calendar year, is judged by the Trustees as being of artistic merit and is representative of the ethos of the Club in relation to both Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars and fellowship amongst Members.” The current process is for the Praeclarvm Editor to “advertise” the Award in the last two issues for the year with a closing date of end-January and the winner announced in Praeclarum. Entries close 30th June 2026 . Click here for current and past winners . Click here to download the entry form. Sir Henry Royce Foundation - Award for Excellence in Automotive Engineering Sir Henry Royce Foundation - Awards for Excellence for Apprentices in Automotive studies. There are two awards for apprentices in Automotive studies at Kangan Institute. Entries close 30th June 2026. 1) The SHRF award is presented to an automotive apprentice who has made a significant contribution to the pursuit of excellence in their studies at the Victorian Kangan Institute. The award was first presented in 2007 and consists of a trophy and a cheque for $1,000. 2) The Lionel Gell School of Instruction Award to the apprentice of the year in Automotive studies which carries a cheque for $5,000. A perpetual trophy which records the award winners is housed in the Foundation's Archive. Click here for current and past winners . Foundation Trophy This trophy is awarded solely at the discretion of the Trustees. This trophy is awarded to a person (or people) who, in the opinion of the Trustees, has made a significant and long-term contribution to the ideals of Sir Henry Royce – the pursuit of excellence. Click here for current and past winners . The Sir Henry Royce Foundation - Art Award The Foundation’s Art Award, held under the auspices of the Sherbrook Art Society, Sherbrook, Melbourne. Paintings entered into this competition must have a Rolls-Royce or Bentley as the main theme. The standard of paintings is extremely high. The three prize-winning paintings are acquired by The Foundation under the terms of the competition and are and are hung in Bill Allsep House. Cash prizes for first, second and third. Click here for current and past winners . The Si r Henry Royce Foundation - Research Award In 2017, the Trustees of the Foundation initiated ‘The Sir Henry Royce Foundation Research Award. This award, with a prize of $500, which will be awarded annually to the person who in the opinion of Trustees, has made best use of Foundation ‘Archive’ to research a topic of Rolls-Royce and Bentley interest and who has published this research in Praeclarum or in a wider distribution, publicly available media. This Award is open to all, not just members of the RROC-A. Entries must be submitted to the Hon. Archivist by 30th June 2026 so that the Trustees and Archivist can decide on a winner for announcement at the annual Federal Rally of the RROCA. Click here for the Nomination Form . Click here for current and past winners. ©All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording without express written consent from the copyright owner. Individual works of art are copyright of respective copyright owner.

  • Volunteers | hrfoundation

    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

  • Online Newsletter - The Royce Voice | hrfoundation

    The Royce Voice is the Sir Henry Royce Foundation's quarterly e-news from all its Archives in Australia. We wish to let you know about the latest events and acquisitions within the various Collections, Museum and Showroom. Also to update you about its community involvement and various Awards. We'd love to have you as a subscriber. The Royce Voice SHRF Quarterly e-Newsletter Welcome to the Foundation's quarterly e-news from all its Archives in Australia. We wish to let you know about the latest events and acquisitions within the various Collections, Museum and Showroom. Also to update you about its community involvement and various Awards. We'd love to have you as a subscriber. Click Here to Subscribe Now Previous Issues Issue 23 - Winter 2025 Issue 22 - Autumn 2025 Issue 21 - Summer 2025 Issue 20 - Spring 2024 Issue 19 - Winter 2024 Issue 18 - Autumn 2024 Issue 17 - Summer 2024 Issue 16 - Xmas 2023 Issue 15 - Spring 2023 Issue 14 - Winter 2023 Issue 13 - Autumn 2023 Issu e 12 - Summer 2023 Issue 11 - End of 2022 Issue 10 - Spring 2022 Issue 9 - Winter 2022 Issue 8 - Autumn 2022 Issue 7 - Summer 2022 Issue 6 - Xmas 2021 Issue 5 - Spring 2021 Issue 4 - Winter 2021 Issue 3 - Autumn 2021 Issue 2 - Summer 2021 Issue 1 - Spring 2020

  • Chassis1492 | hrfoundation

    Visit the Sir Henry Royce Foundation Geebung Museum. Landaulet body from Chassis 1492 The arrival of the “1910 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost – Chassis No. 1492 – Timber Body”. Kindly donated to the Sir Henry Royce Foundation by Bill Hall, the Timber Body from the 1910 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost – Chassis No. 1492 duly arrived on Tuesday, 11th January 2022 just in time for the re-opening of the Museum on the 15th January. Timber Body being collected from Sydney by Trustee Frank Carroll and his wife Joan – aided by volunteers Steve, Martin, Brian and Bill Hall who assisted with loading the body ready for transport. Transported on an open Trailer, with due care and careful driving, the body arrived in very good condition. Its arrival sparked animated conversation on what to do next to prepare the Body for display within the Museum. Curator Barry Sparks, Volunteers Sue, Ann and good neighbour Dean were on hand to meet Frank and Joan and to assist with the unloading and homing of the Body. Many hands make light work, as they say, and within an hour the body was homed ready for preparation. 1915 begins the history in Australia of the 1910 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost - Chassis No. 1492 – with its original owner being a Mrs. Dunlop of Kew in Melbourne. Sold on, the custodians became the Whitney’s of Orange, NSW who sold it on to Kinsela Funerals in Sydney in 1925. Kinsela’s Funerals had the body converted to a Hearse. The Hearse was then sold again into the ownership of Coopers of Uralla in the 1940’s. In 1956, 1492’s next custodians were Margaret and Barrie Gillings of New South Wales. As the Gillings were committed to Post-Graduate Studies overseas in early 1957, George Green, a well-known Vintage Car enthusiast volunteered to curate 1492 in their absence and to organise a more appropriate body than a hearse to be built on the Chassis. After extensive research a Landaulet body was chosen. The body was built in 1958 by W. S. Grice, Body Builder of Summer Hill NSW who built Ambulance bodies at the time which, Margaret supposes, could have been why the body has always been white. This company still exists today. The only modification to the body has been the addition of half-doors to the front cabin. Respecting the chassis number 1492, the Silver Ghost was christened “Christopher”. ‘1492”, with its distinctive Landaulet body has, with the exception of Western Australia, travelled to every other State in Australia numerous times, twice attended Bi-Centennial Rallies, has been used by numerous brides, extensively used by the whole Gillings family and had the distinction of driving NSW Premier, John Fahey, as the first car driven through the Sydney Harbour Tunnel at its opening in 1992. “Christopher – Chassis No. 1492 ” turned 100 years on 28th December, 2010. In the custodianship of the Gillings family it was owned and lovingly maintained for 60years. It proved to be a very reliable vehicle and had not been off the road for more than a few weeks during the period of their ownership. Chassis 1642 was sold to Bill Hall in 2016. Bill has had a complete rebuild of its engine and a new body, built by Roger Fry of Western Australia, fitted. His donation of the Wooden Body is greatly appreciated. A remarkable history for Chassis 1492 and for the Timber Body thus far. Look for notification in future Newsletters as to when this Body will be on permanent display. Photos courtesy of Margaret Gillings, A. Sparks, Brian Crump.

  • Past News, Articles Etc,. | hrfoundation

    Past news, articles and more on the Sir Henry Royce Foundation Australia Foundation Column in Præclarvm - Archives Commencing in 2006, successive Foundation Chairmen have published documents or contributed pages to the RROCA magazine, Præclarvm, outlining the activities of the Foundation and details of its Archive collection. 2020 Foundation Column - December 2020 Foundation Column - October 2020 Foundation Column - June 2020 Foundation Column - April 2020 Foundation Column - February 2019 Foundation Column - December 2019 Foundation Column - October 2019 Foundation Column - June 2019 Foundation Column - April 2018 Foundation Column - December 2018 Foundation Column - October 2018 Foundation Column - August 2018 Foundation Column - June 2018 Foundation Column - April 2018 Foundation Column - February 2017 Foundation Column - December 2017 Foundation Column - October 2017 Foundation Column - August 2017 Foundation Column - June 2017 Foundation Column - April 2017 Foundation Column - February 2016 Foundation Column - December 2016 Foundation Column - October 2016 Foundation Column - August 2016 Foundation Column - July 2016 Foundation Column - April 2016 Foundation Column - February

  • Canberra Showroom - ACT | hrfoundation

    The Canberra Showroom of the Sir Henry Royce Foundation Australia is in Fyshwick, ACT. It shares the space with the beautifully curated Ollies' Garage. Canberra Showroom - ACT The SHRF Canberra Showroom & Ollies' Garage Fyshwick, ACT Click HERE to email the Curator Open one Saturday per month 9.00 am - 12.00 pm or by group appointment. Check dates and book tickets online via Canberra Showroom of the Sir Henry Royce Foundation. O ther times for groups by appointment. Or visit our Virtual Tour 24 hours a day 7 days a week by logging into our website to access our Virtual Reality Interactive Tour. The Canberra Showroom of the Foundation was officially opened on 6 July 2024 by Mick Gentleman MLA, ACT. Below are a selection of photos from the opening. Opening1 Canberra Showrooms 1 Opening2 Opening1 1/10

  • Peking to Paris | hrfoundation

    Peking to Paris 1997. The Sir Henry Royce Foundation, Australia has in its collection the Phantom V 5VF159 that completed the 1997 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge. It took 45 days. Went for 16,000 kilometres across snow capped Himalayas at 5,000 metres and three deserts under scorching sun. Peking to Paris Of special note: The SHRF Phantom V 5VF159 completed the 1997 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge. It took 45 days. Went for 16,000 kilometres across snow capped Himalayas at 5,000 metres and three deserts under scorching sun. Owner/Drivers on the rally: John Matheson & Jeanne Eve. Below is a wonderful photo book of their trip. Enjoy.

  • Printed Materials Collection | hrfoundation

    Printed Materials Collection The Foundation boasts a huge archive of printed materials. From GA Drawings, books, magazines, books, service records and much, much more. A wonderful and searchable (yes really) collection of the RROCA Praeclarum magazine from 1960 to 2010 is also available. We hope to be able to add from 2010 to current in the not too distant future. Click on this link to access: http://praeclarum.rroc.org.au/ PAINT CODES Colour Names and Cross-References for Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motor Cars for Postwar Vehicles - 1946 to 1999 - click HERE . Below is a collection of photos and a few short videos from the Printed Materials archives. GA (general assembly) detail for hanger of exhaust of 20/25HP. Service records from York Motors, Sydney. 1914 Silver Ghost catalogue limousine - early model. GA (general assembly) detail for hanger of exhaust of 20/25HP. 1/22 SHRF - Catalogues (G Ralph) Play Video SHRF - Ian Irwin (Research and books) Play Video SHRF - The Dunlop Book (as told by Gilbert Ralph) Play Video SHRF - Books - RR Aircraft Engines (as told by J Reis) Play Video Printed Materials Watch Now Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Share Channel Info Close

  • Columns & News | hrfoundation

    For regular columns about the Sir Henry Royce Foundation, as found in the Praeclarum Magazine, can be found here along with any current news. News / Announcements Foundation Column in Præclarvm Commencing in 2006, successive Foundation Chairmen have published documents or contributed pages to the RROCA magazine, Præclarvm, outlining the activities of the Foundation and details of its Archive collection. The Foundation is a Member of: Austr alasian Motor Museums . Australian Museum & Galleries Association .... and professional links with: Auto Historians Australia Inc Australian Motor Heritage Foundation 2023 Foundation Column - October 2023 Foundation Column - August 2023 Foundation Column - June 2023 Foundation Column - April 2023 Foundation Column - February 2022 Foundation Column - December 2022 Foundation Column - October 2022 Foundation Column - June 2022 Foundation Column - April 2022 Foundation Column - February 2021 Foundation Column - December 2021 Foundation Column - October 2021 Foundation Column - June 2021 Foundation Column - April 2021 Foundation Column - February Pre 2021 ...... Præclarvm Editor & Edition History Announcements / News / Media / Interesting Articles Commencing in 2006, successive Foundation Chairmen have published documents or contributed pages to the RROCA magazine, Præclarvm, outlining the activities of the Foundation and details of its Archive collection. A Generous Bequest - October 2021 Article in the Coolum Advertiser - 3rd October 2019 The Sir Henry Royce Foundation - Research Award SHRF - Financial Statements Click here. Photo Stories Photographer Fred English / Curator Gilbert Ralph October 2019 August 2019 Brain Cancer Men's Retreat Recently, Trustee Frank Carroll hosted the Peace of Mind charity for men with a terminal brain cancer diagnosis whose participants rode in cars driven by the Roadrunner Car Club in QLD. They all visited the SHRF Coolum Showroom for a guided tour and sausage sizzle. Roadrunners with Peace of Mind charity Oct 2023 Roadrunners with Peace of Mind charity Oct 2023 Brain Cancer Men's Retreat Recently, Trustee Frank Carroll hosted the Peace of Mind charity for men with a terminal brain cancer diagnosis whose participants rode in cars driven by the Roadrunner Car Club in QLD. They all visited the SHRF Coolum Showroom for a guided tour and sausage sizzle. 1/3

  • Sir Henry Royce | hrfoundation

    Sir Henry Royce Frederick Henry Royce was born in Alwalton, Huntingdonshire, near Peterborough, the son of James and Mary Royce and was the youngest of their five children. Some readers may know very little about Sir Henry. Others would know quite a lot about him. But it is worth recording again some of his history and, by extension, that of Rolls-Royce. Frederick Henry Royce was born on 27 March 1863. Not into a wealthy family, but as the son of a miller. Commencing work as a telegram delivery boy, he was later apprenticed to the Great Northern Railway. Royce was interested in electricity, and developed his knowledge of this industry at night school. He formed F. H. Royce and Co. in 1884 when he was twenty-one. That Company manufactured dynamos and electric cranes; parts of one of the latter were acquired by the Foundation. In 1903 Royce bought a small Decauville car manufactured in France, and set about improving it to his standards. This led to the production of a 10hp, 2-cylinder automobile he named ‘Royce’, which first ran on 1 April 1904. Two more cars of the same type and specifications were produced, and of the three, only the engine of one remains in the Manchester Museum. The Honourable Charles Stewart Rolls met Frederick Henry Royce (as he then was) in May 1904. Rolls, a pioneer motorist and car salesman, was impressed with Royce and his car, so they subsequently formed Rolls-Royce Limited in April 1906. The first 40/50hp, 6-cylinder car – a model retrospectively known as the ‘Silver Ghost’ after the most famous example of the type – made its appearance in November 1906, and with many improvements in its design, was produced for the next nineteen years. At the outbreak of the First World War, Sir Henry turned his energies to aero engines, and a long line of superb aero engines was begun. First came the Eagle, then the Hawk, followed by the Falcon and Condor. More than half of the Allied aircraft in that war flew with Rolls-Royce engines, all designed by Sir Henry. Nearly seven months after the war ended, John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown in a Vickers Vimy biplane fitted with two Rolls-Royce Eagle engines completed the first aerial crossing of the Atlantic. Subsequently, the Kestrel aero engine was produced, which in turn led to the ‘R’ engine for the 1931 Schneider Trophy races, and ultimately, the Merlin V-12 powerplant based on the design of the ‘R’ engine. In all his designs Sir Henry Royce demonstrated an attention to detail never previously seen in the automotive and aeronautical worlds. His work ethic was inspired by his personal motto: Quidvis recte factum quamvis humile præclarum (Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble). Today, there are many fine examples of Royce’s determination to strive for perfection in engineering. The principal objective of the Sir Henry Royce Foundation, Australia is to honour Sir Henry's life and work, to publicise, preserve and maintain examples of his engineering genius, and perpetuate his engineering philosophy, namely the pursuit of excellence. He was named Baronet Royce of Seaton (Rutland) on June 26, 1930. The barontcy became extinct when he died. In 1962 a memorial window dedicated to his memory was unveiled in Westminster Abbey the only time an engineer has been honored in this way. Click on the audio link below to listen to a very interesting 12 minute audio on Sir Henry from the Grace Gibson radio series 'Famous Fortunes’. This enjoyable series can be obtained through their website (www.gracegibsonradio.com ). Well worth listening to. The Foundation is grateful and acknowledges the permission granted by Grace Gibson Productions to bring you this audio classic. Famous Fortunes - Episode 19 00:00 / 00:00 SHRF - Sir Henry Royce (as told by Russell Rolls) Play Video Sir Henry Royce Watch Now Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Share Channel Info Close

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The archival resource and repository for all Rolls-Royce and Bentley heritage material in Australia.

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