The Yarra Valley Machinery Preservation Society (YVMPS) Inc was set up in 1988 by a group of enthusiasts keen to preserve and restore old machinery, in particular, internal combustion engines. Their machinery is from an era when there was no electricity grid - a time when households and industrial machines had to be powered by engines on site.
In order to pump water, saw wood, bale hay, or shear sheep you often had to manoeuvre a heavy engine into place, to create the power – which entailed belting up, manually starting it and overseeing the machine while it was running. Household lighting was generated the same way with an engine in the shed close by.
Members of YVMPS call Mont De Lancey home and it’s here they house their prized antiques - old machinery and vintage engines - in their shed. As part of your guided tour, we'll open up the shed so you can see the engines owned by members of the preservation society, and the club itself. The engines will be dormant during your guided tour, so if you want to see them running, contact the society before your visit and arrange for a volunteer to be there to meet you.
If you want to see the engines running, creating electricity and pumping water, make sure you contact the YVMPS before your visit to arrange for one of their volunteers to be onsite to show you.
The volunteers are happy to open up the shed by appointment, and love showing these impressive relics from bygone days in action and answering questions, so get in touch prior to your visit.
YVMPS members meet at Mont De Lancey on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 7.30 pm. Visitors and new members are always welcome.
YVMPS run a Draught Horse Festival each year here at Mont De Lancey. Check our events calendar to find out when the next one is happening.
