On Saturday, 18 October 1958, a traction engine rally was held in Tinwald that was the second of its kind ever held in New Zealand, after the first which was held at Southbrook, Rangiora four months prior.
The day kicked off with a steam-powered parade, from Walnut Avenue to the rally paddock in Grahams Road, which was described by the Press newspaper as “the largest procession of steam vehicles ever seen in the Southern Hemisphere.” The convoy included 29 traction engines and steam rollers, 1 steam truck, 2 steam cars, a horse-drawn water cart and several trick cyclists.
By the time the engines had reached the rally paddock, and a brief history was being told over the loudspeaker, the lines of attendees’ parked cars and buses down all the adjacent roads had reached nearly 5 kilometres long. Not only had two of those buses been arranged for a special ex-engine operator’s excursion, but a special aircraft service had also been chartered from Gore for the occasion.
Marches, speeches, and steam-powered sprints
In the afternoon, a grand march led by the Ashburton County Scottish Society Pipe Band and a group of red-coated nurses was held. The Press describes to us how “as the engines rumbled up towards the front of the area in pairs and then peeled off to go round each side of the paddock they made a very imposing sight for the 20,000 spectators present.”
After the march, Ashburton Mayor Mr. A. A. McDonald spoke, stating that the rally was the biggest thing that had ever been patronised in Ashburton, going on to say: “This will go down as history in the minds of every person.” Further speeches by County Chairman Mr E. T. Grigg and rally committee president Mr. W. S. Kingsbury reinforced the sentiments expressed by the Mayor, as well as mentioning that one of the main motivations for holding the rally was because many children had probably never seen a traction engine in action.
Attractions throughout the day, aside from those already mentioned, included fast and slow races, a potato race, threshing and chaff-cutting exhibitions, and a driving-between-drums challenge.
Fundraising was the main purpose for the traction engine rally at Tinwald, the proceeds of which being split between the Tinwald Memorial Hall and the Ashburton Nurses’ Swimming Pool Fund. It’s also worth noting that a film crew from the National Film Unit was present to film the day’s highlights, and a copy of some of the footage they produced is preserved in the Ashburton Museum and Historical Society’s community archives.
By Connor Lysaght
Unless otherwise stated, photographs and research materials on this page are owned by the Ashburton Museum & Historical Society Inc. This post was modified for this blog and was originally published in the Ashburton Guardian, 15 July 2023.
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