The Sir Henry Royce Foundation, Australia
Established in 1996 - Preserving the Past for Rolls-Royce and Bentley Enthusiasts
FOUNDATION BULLETIN
BULLETIN
FOUNDATION
August 2009 - Edition 9
Studley Park House
The Home of The Sir Henry Royce Foundation
W
ith the acquisition of historic Studley Park House,
in 1810. Construction of this grand Victorian mansion
“the future of the Foundation is only limited by
commenced in 1889 and it stands in the present day
enthusiasm and imagination”. This was the message
grounds of Camden Golf Club.
conveyed by David Vann, Chairman of Trustees, to a
World-class facilities will be developed for use as
group of 45 members of the Rolls-Royce
a museum, as a research facility, as a place
The Trustees are
Owners’ Club of Australia on Saturday
for meetings and seminars, for events such
delighted to announce
11 July 2009 at the first of a planned
as Concours d’Elegance to international
series of inspections and the launch of a that following the initial standards, as a place of general public
inspection on 11 July
fund raising campaign.
benefit and interest, and most importantly
2009 a donation of
In 2008 the Moran family
as the permanent home of The Sir Henry
$5,000 towards the
purchased Studley Park House and
Royce Foundation, Australia.
RROCA member Peter Moran has most refurbishment of Studley A new museum exhibition building
generously made it available to the Park House was made to is planned for the future, in which a
the Foundation.
Foundation with an initial 20 years’ lease
comprehensive display of motor cars and
for a peppercorn rent.
engines will be on show.
Studley Park House is situated at Narellan, an
Sponsorship and naming rights are invited
hour’s drive south west of Sydney, and its history goes
for individual rooms in Studley Park House and the
back to the early years of the colony of New South
Theatrette, with the cost of the sponsorship covering
Wales following European settlement. The original
refurbishment and fitting out of the room for a particular
land grant by Governor Lachlan Macquarie was made
display chosen for that room. Patron: David Jones AO OBE KSJ.
Trustees: David Vann OAM, Chairman; Malcolm Johns; David Neely; David Davis.
Trustee Emeritus: James Kelso OAM. Honorary Archivist: Gilbert Ralph MBE OAM.
FOUNDATION
FOUNDATION BULLETIN
BULLETIN
Foundation Contact:
David Vann, Chairman and Trustee
149 Crosby Road, Hamilton Qld 4007
P: 07-3262-7997 M: 0404-452-148
F: 07-3865-4822
E: [email protected]
Foundation Advisory Committee:
Mal Henderson, Chairman and NSW
Martin Bennett ACT
Fred Haughtey QLD
Richard Flashman SA
Gilbert Ralph VIC
Roger Fry WA
Editor: David Neely
P: 02-9747-2973
E:[email protected]
Foundation Website:
www.royce.org.au
The Foundation’s ‘Archive’ of exhibits, cars, engines, model cars and memorabilia is housed in the Fox Classic Car Collection
Museum, pictured above, at 749-755 Collins Street, Docklands, Melbourne. The Fox Museum is open to the public on Tuesdays
10.00am-2.00pm, February to November. To confirm opening availability phone 03-6920-4086. An admission charge applies.
Foundation Premises
In the December 2008 ‘Foundation
Bulletin’ the Chairman, David Vann,
set out the need for a permanent
home for the Foundation. Little did
he realise that the search would
lead to such an exciting outcome as
Studley Park House.
In April 2009 RROCA member
Peter Moran, on the left, invited the
Foundation’s Trustees, David Vann,
David Davis, Malcolm Johns pictured
left to right and David Neely to inspect
Studley Park House.
Managing the Studley Park
House Project
The Foundation is a public
benevolent charitable trust, which
was established on the initiative
of RROCA members in April 1996.
The Trustees are responsible for the
Foundation’s Collection, which is now
valued at more than one and a half
million dollars. Gifts and donations
are tax deductible and as a legal
entity the Foundation must stand
alone.
Accordingly, the Trustees
have formed a company, SHRF
Management Pty Ltd, to carry
out the business affairs of the
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Foundation from now on, including
the development and management
of Studley Park House. This ushers in
an exciting new era of collaboration
between the Foundation and RollsRoyce and Bentley enthusiasts in
Australia and elsewhere because
the board of SHRF Management will
comprise two Foundation Trustees,
Peter Moran as representative of
the Moran family, the President of
the RROCA, the Chairman of the
Foundation’s Advisory Committee,
the Chairman of the 20-Ghost Club
Australian Chapter, a nominee of
the Bentley Drivers Club and as a
non-voting Director, a representative
of the Silver Ghost Association in
Australia.
Questions About the Studley
Park House Project
An enormous amount of interest has
been created in the project and with
it many questions. Here David Vann
provides some answers.
Q: What happens to Studley Park
House after the 20 years’ lease
expires?
A: If the Foundation has not
managed to negotiate purchase of
the property then a further lease of
20 years will be negotiated.
Q: If SHRFA is the lessee then the
Moran family still owns the property
do they pay the building and contents
insurance and Public Liability
insurance?
A: The Foundation is responsible for
Public Liability, its own contents and
Workers Compensation insurances
only.
Studley Park House is an outstanding
“boom style” Victorian mansion on a
commanding site and expresses the
self-confidence on the 1880s building
boom.
Q: In the unlikely event that the
project falters what happens to the
SHRFA investment and displays; do
they revert to SHRFA or will they stay
with the owners?
A: In this unlikely event, then all
Foundation material (including
the Collection), which is owned
by the Foundation and not SHRF
Management Pty Ltd will be retained
by the Foundation.
Q: Are there any known large
benefactors to enable work to start?
A: Encouraging negotiations are
taking place.
Q: Can a mortgage be entered into if
SHRFA is merely a lessee?
A: No and we don’t believe it would
be desirable.
Foundation Bulletin - August 2009 - Edition 9
A long sweeping driveway leads to Studley Park House,
which can be glimpsed in the top left corner.
The commanding view as seen from one of the balconies of
Studley Park House.
Q: Has the building yet been
examined by a competent architect
to prepare a plan for its renovation
and an estimate of the cost?
A: Yes there is a complete
Restoration Report and costings
for the building but it must be
remembered that our first priority is
to make it habitable.
Q: Will there be a resident caretaker
and could it operate as a B&B for
RROCA visitors?
A: There will be a resident caretaker
appointed shortly but it is not
envisaged that the facility would
operate as a B&B.
Q: Will the Golf Club remain or
will it be entirely redeveloped as a
retirement village?
A: The Golf Club is an entirely
separate property of 66.042 ha. The
Moran property is 5.532 ha.
Q: Who will manage the project?
A: The Trustees of the Foundation in
conjunction with SHRF Management
Pty Ltd.
Q: Will interested parties, including
Branch Committees, have an
opportunity to comment on plans
and displays?
A: This will be most welcome,
desirable and fostered.
Q: Does the Moran family or
company receive a tax benefit from
the arrangement?
A: Only to the limit of an annual
donation offset against the rent.
On 11 July 2009 RROCA Federal
Executives and Branch Presidents,
Honorary Life Members, Foundation
Advisory Committee members, the
20-Ghost Club Chairman and the
Foundation’s benefactors to date
attended the first of a series of
planned inspections with our most
generous donors Messrs Doug and
Peter Moran. The cost of the function
including a sumptuous lunch in an
elegant marquee was met personally
by the Trustees and not by the
Foundation.
Q: Could the basement be used
for storage and/or an archive if dry
enough?
A: Yes.
Q: Is sufficient land included to allow
for a museum building and large
motoring events?
A: Yes.
Q: Where will the funds come from
to operate and maintain the building
and grounds?
A: Our planning model shows the
day to day expenses will be covered
from the income received from
visitors and users to the building.
There will be no call on Club
Branches or members.
Q: What call will there be on RROCA
Branches?
A: They will be invited to help
and contribute in their absolute
discretion.
Q: Will the RROCA be able to share
Studley Park House as its National
Headquarters?
A: Yes.
Q: Will a professional designer be
involved with the creation of the
various displays?
A: Yes, most definitely.
Q: As the building is heritage listed
does it qualify for a grant and who is
the recipient of the grant, the SHRFA
or the Moran family?
A: The owner of the building is the
recipient of any grants. These grants
must be used strictly for the work
for which they were granted and are
subject to independent inspections.
Many aspects of the work qualify for
heritage grants.
The open gallery on the first floor
overlooks the magnificent tessellated
tiles on the ground floor.
Foundation Bulletin - August 2009 - Edition 9
Q: Did you know that the property is
reputed to be haunted?
A: Yes, and this is a great marketing
story. Rumour has it that the late
Terry Bruce acquired a long lost
relic of Sir Henry and that this was
deposited at the house. This story is
not verified as yet, but if you would
like to undertake a search on my
behalf in the basement one evening
entry can be arranged!
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Foundation Flagship in
Western Australia
Kangan Batman TAFE Award
for 2008
The Foundation’s 1967 Rolls-Royce
Phantom V continued its tour of
RROCA Branches and is pictured
here in March 2009 at the 51st
Federal Rally at Albany hosted by the
West Australian Branch.
This is the third Federal
Rally in which the Phantom V has
been entered. The others were the
2007 Sun, Surf and Sand Federal
Rally on the Queensland Sunshine
Coast hosted by the Queensland
Branch and the 2008 Tour de
Barossa Federal Rally in the Barossa
Valley hosted by the South Australia
Branch.
A large crowd of well wishes
and proud parents gathered at
Rydges Function Centre in Preston,
Melbourne on Friday 19 June 2009
for the Annual Kangan Batman TAFE
Graduation and Awards Ceremony.
The Foundation’s Honorary Archivist,
Gilbert Ralph, and his wife, Nanette,
were there to represent the
Foundation.
It was a busy program of
activity that was well managed by
a lively MC, Brett De Hoedt. There
were over 40 awards presented
during the course of the evening to
apprentices in six fields including;
Aviation, Engineering & Security;
Built & Natural Environments;
Competitive Operations; Automotive
Body & Specialist Trades; Heavy
Vehicle & Engine Technology and
Mechanical Technology. Apart
from numerous Certificates there
were a number of Special Awards
including the one made available
by the Foundation in the category,
Automotive Body and Specialist
Trades.
For 2008 the winner of
the SHRFA Award for Automotive
Excellence was Daniel Kostakakis a
third year apprentice with Universal
Smash Repairs in Williamstown
The Phantom V, 5VF159, at the Albany
Federal Rally Concours d’Elegance at
Fort Princess Royal.
The inaugural Award was announced
at the Albany Federal Rally in March
2009. The joint winners for 2008
were Bryan Inder and Alan Dyer.
The Award seeks to
encourage and reward excellence in
1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, 12HG,
at Uluru in Central Australia during a
joint Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club and
Silver Ghost Association ‘Wholly
Ghost Tour’ on 15 May 1996.
Submitted by NSW Branch member
Bryan Inder.
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The 2009 F. J. Engish Award
for
Club Photography
Club photography. The name of the
Award recognises the photographic
contribution to the Rolls-Royce
Owners’ Club of Australia of The F. J.
Engish Archive, which contains over
12,000 photographs of Club events.
The Award is sponsored personally
by Fred Engish.
Entries are now invited
for the 2009 Award, which will
comprise a cash prize of $500
and a memento. The competition
is open to RROCA members and
the photographs must be taken at
a RROCA event during the 2009
calendar year. Entries will close
North. Gilbert Ralph presented Daniel
with a cheque for $1,000 plus an
attractive trophy.
Daniel’s proud parents were
there to applaud their son’s success.
Gilbert spoke with Daniel about his
interests and learned that he had
a number of cars including a Mini
Cooper and a Ford Mustang. He
has a real passion for panel beating
and creative body building and
illustrated a sample of his work – a
radiator shell for a late 1930’s Austin
10. It was very impressive and the
owner was delighted with the result.
Daniel hopes to specialise in body
reconstructions.
We wish him well in his
endeavours – perhaps he is a Roger
Fry in the making!
Gilbert Ralph presented Daniel
Kostakakis with a cheque for $1,000
plus an attractive trophy.
on 31 December 2009 and entry
forms are available from: David
Neely, Trustee, The Sir Henry Royce
Foundation, 40 Queen Street,
Croydon, NSW, 2132. P: 02-97472973 E: [email protected]
1975 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow,
SRH22107, at the gates of
Government House in Melbourne
when the Victoria Branch was invited
to a Charity Day on 17 November
2002. Submitted by Victoria Branch
member Alan Dyer.
Printed by and with the generous assistance of
Union Offset Printers, 16 Nyrang Street, Fyshwick, ACT 2609 P: 02-6295-4500.
Foundation Bulletin - August 2009 - Edition 9