Info Wanted

There are people out there that worked or know of people that worked in  The Chamberlain Tractor Factory in Welshpool W.A.  We would like to hear from you or them  about what you did in the making of the Chamberlains, especially the 9G’S. Have found out they where taken to Eastern States by train, to Sydney or Melbourne?  Any info at all would be gratefully received. Photo’s also.

Please can you help

Quirindi Heritage Village

The Chamberlain 9G Tractor – An Aussie Icon

It was a perfect April Sunday as we drove my classic Alfa GTV 1750 to the annual swap meet at the Quirindi Heritage Village at near Gunnedah NSW.

It was well attended and there were many stalls selling interesting old car parts, old tractor parts, old tools, jewellery, bric-a-brac, plants, books, etc., and take-away food. There was an excellent museum displaying the goods and   chattels and equipment of the early days, model steam locomotives giving rides on very narrow gauge tracks, and a good display of old tractors and agricultural machinery.

I did a double take at the large number of Chamberlain 9G tractors lined up as part of the show and more rumbled in as we looked them over. Most had been restored by their owner/drivers to take part in some truly astonishing tractor club “Treks” and I suspect this was just a stop en route.

 Since the year 2000 they have participated in eleven treks, driving fromWestern Australiato the Eastern States by various routes including the Nullarbor andCentral Australia.

 The “Chamberlain 9G Tractor Club of Western Australia Inc” was formed by WA’s Hugh Campbell and others in 1998/9 in time for the very first Trek to the Sydney Olympics and it’s developed from there. There are now members in practically all States.

 The Treks are planned as 100% fund raisers for the Flying Doctors and Children’s Hospitals in each State, but they also give the 9G owners wonderful experiences and camaraderie along the way.

 The 9G cabin has a large bench seat and is very comfortable for a machine of this age, and many owners have added extra creature comforts as well as modern electronic communications gear. Most 9G’s have been further modified for “trekking” with extra carrying facilities for fuel, water and camping gear. Some have been turned into campers with sleeping cabins built onto the back and some do the treks in even more comfort, towing small vans and camper trailers or even full size caravans.

 The Chamberlain Company began manufacturing tractors inPerthin 1947 and produced a series of  machines including the 9G which they made from 1958 and into the mid 1960’s. It was designed as a “go anywhere machine” with driving controls more truck-like than conventional tractor and it had a great gearbox allowing anything from 2 to 50 km per hour.

 It is great to see this Aussie icon of the tractor world still running and being appreciated by their owners and the public alike. As a student atWaggaWaggaAgriculturalCollegein the early 1960’s I drove these great machines and appreciated their excellent characteristics including the 9 speed gearbox.

 In the College holidays I worked for a Sub Clover seed harvesting contractor. We used the speed and power of the 9G to mow and rake off top growth, scarify to expose the clover burr, and then used the 9G’s low/low gear with a special harvester to suck up the burr and thresh out the clean seed. It was work that paid well and was great fun as well.

Manufacture of true Chamberlain tractors ceased in the mid 1970’s with the Countryman C6100 model and many Australian farmers still regret the loss, especially the iconic 9G.

Ian Collett

Tamworth16/05/11

Thank You Ian for your interesting report

Home at Last

Chamberlain 9G

We had a great holiday but returning home had a very unexpected 4 weeeks delay due to ill health but getting back on track now.

On our trip we met up with George in Smoky Bay,then in Temora N.S.W  Eric where we saw his down to scale model trains he builds, just beatitul Eric.Then we went to The Temora Rural Museum where to our suprise we saw a Chamberlain 9G that they had just aquired. Story above  taken from The Temora Independant newspaper.

Bridgetown Heritage Day

Chamberlain 9G’S are invited to this day of events as a display and promotion of the club. Please take part if you can.

Bridgetown Heritage Day

Bridgetown Showgrounds

26th March 2011

9.30 am till 4.oo pm

Programme consists of a wide variety of interests for all

Proceeds to Princess Margaret Hospital Childrens Hospital

Admission, ADULTS $10,Children under 16 free, Driver exhibiting FREE.

Contacts as per Brochure

Fred Waller 9761 1898

Doddy Davies 9761 1061

Ross Petterson 9761 2235

AGM Esperance

The meeting was well attended in Esperance 12th February 2011. Four tractors went to Wagin then onto Albany,with another two joining in there.

Along the way the hospitality was unbeleiveable, BBQ’S, lunches, morning teas, dinners and snacks in between, that none of us really needed. Boat cruise, wineries, scenic tours, farm visits, machinery sheds,Wellstead Museum, a must do if in Bremer Bay, talk on geological structure of Stirling Ranges and Porongerups, very interesting but very cold weather in Albany.

Dinner after the AGM our  speaker spoke about himself working in the Chamberlain Factory at Welshpool and now a John Deere agent. Was very interesting. Then Peter Barr read a poem he had written about the Chamberalains, very well done Peter

8Ks of rough road from Bremer Bay across the sand bar to the National Park only to find the road closed there, so had to go around to get to Hopetoun

        Going from Bremer Bay to National Park

AGM Esperance

 

Well, Barry is ready to go on his first Tractor Trek to Esperance. It has taken quite a bit of  time and effort but its finished for now . I’m sure there will be more things to do after this first trip. Helen searched for the van after all the requirements from Barry were put forward. So 4th Feb. is the start of a new adventure for them both.

Trek AGM Esperance

Changes for Trek

The Trek will be leaving Wagin on Saturday 5th January,

NOT Sunday 6th January

This is because we will be having a trip up the Kalgan River, therefore we will be spending an extra day in Albany

Hope all those tractors have been prepared or are being prepared to represent your club on this Trek.