Aussie utes are on the MOVE

By Daneka Hill

Feb 18, 2022

Trays for days: The utility has always been distinct from the American ‘pick-up truck’ thanks to its sedan body and lighter frame. Photo by Daneka Hill

In one week they’ll be back in the loving hands of their owners, so get down to Shepparton’s Museum of Vehicle Evolution quick if you want to see some rare Aussie utes.

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The special February exhibition of the home-grown icon starts at the door with a 1951 Holden 50-2106 coupe utility, aka the one which started it all.

MOVE curator Jade Burley picked the 1951 Holden as his favourite.

“This is what people think of as the first Aussie ute, this is what they imagine,” Mr Burley said.

“The actual first utility was a Ford in the ’30s but I’ve only seen one of those and it was in the National Motor Museum.”

The original: MOVE curator Jade Burley with a 1951 Holden utility. The vehicle is owned by Shepparton’s Darren Maxted who’s had it under a cover for 12 years. Photo by Daneka Hill

The Aussie Ute exhibit will run across all of February and MOVE plans to keep the monthly specials going.

“I’ve got about four years’ worth of ideas,” Mr Burley said.

“I’m thinking about a Porsche and a British sports car exhibit in the coming months.”

Mr Burley said he’d been hoping to include a Subaru Brumby in the exhibition as they were really popular in the Goulburn Valley for their ability to fit in orchard rows.

Ironically, there wasn’t enough room to fit the tiny ute.

MOVE is at Emerald Bank on Goulburn Valley Hwy, Kialla.

Another drawcard is the parking lot, where you can spy the odd Tesla, Ford Mustang, Holden Monaro and more as car enthusiasts park and walk in.