The Forest Conservator’s wheels.

I have no idea what sort of car this is, or what year these photos were taken, but this impressive motor is thought to have belonged to Hugh Robert Mackay.

Mackay had been Secretary to the Royal Commission into forests between 1897 and 1901. He had compiled its reports and later drafted the Bill on which the 1907 Forest Act was based.

He was subsequently appointed as the first Conservator of the new State Forest Department (SFD) in 1907 and remained until the formation of the Forests Commission Victoria (FCV) in 1919 when Owen Jones was recruited from England.

This snazzy car was thought to have been used in his travels around Victoria.

2 thoughts on “The Forest Conservator’s wheels.

  1. Hi Peter,
    What an interesting car! The first car is different from the second photo

    Is there any motor vehicle registration information in the PROV? I haven’t managed to find any. If the registration information exists it may be able to answer your questions.
    I have been trying to find information on my grandfather’s car. He had a car hire business before US Motors formed. His car was registered 35748 in early 1920’s.

    I think the car in your photo is a lot later. From the following it is post 1939 (as it has letters). However it should have Vic on it.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Victoria

    Regards
    Jeff Latter
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