‘Tired Iron’ Recaptures the Memories

Crossley, Lister, Southern Cross - Aussie brand names long-gone but not forgotten - and working as well as always at the Rabobank FNQ Rotary Field Days Tired Iron Display.

Crossley, Lister, Southern Cross - Aussie brand names
long-gone but not forgotten - and working as well as
always at the Rabobank FNQ Rotary Field Days Tired
Iron Display.

Hand-crafted Miniature Cannons recall the Great War - the Field Days Tired Iron Display features numerous machines of the type used at Gallipolli and on the Western Front.

Hand-crafted Miniature Cannons recall the Great War -
the Field Days Tired Iron Display features numerous
machines of the type used at Gallipolli and on the
Western Front.

Old Machinery collectors from as far a’field as the Burdekin and Biloela will be steam-rolling their way to the Rabobank FNQ Rotary Field Days – ‘Tired Iron’ display enthusiast Toby Atkinson predicts the largest ever Field Days display of these wonderful old machines – many still working!

The wheezing, chuff-chuffing, smoking, working engines at the Tired Iron Display evoke an era when life on the land was really tough.

Kerosene and coal-fired farm engines, steam-powered tractors, pumps and pulleys – many working as well on-display as they did in the 1890’s or very early in the twentieth century, over one hundred years ago.

Kerosene and steam as a farmer’s preferred energy sources lingered long after the introduction of Diesel-power, which eventually dominated farm machinery. But the diesel off-take in Australia was initially very slow – due to it’s German origins. Bitter memories of the Great War meant that farmers (and ‘townies’) needed a lot of convincing on the merits of diesel!

In addition to the big Burdekin and Bilolea contingents, Tired Iron collectors from Townsville, Ingham and all across the Tablelands will be represented at the event. ‘By far, our biggest turn-out yet’ says Toby Atkinson.

Toby and wife Joan are life-long supporters of the Royal Flying Doctors Near & Far Auxiliary, and the huge Tired Iron display will include a stall to raise funds for ‘the Flying Doctors’, with ‘all manner of goodies on-sale’ says Toby.

Support for the Tired Iron display and the RFDS fund-raiser is strongly recommended.



Not just a Display – a demonstration – see ancient engines working at Tired Iron corner, a major feature of the Rabobank FNQ Rotary Field Days.