For over 4-decades the exceptional Cremorne Garage of David Jones has been the envy of classic car enthusiasts and memorabilia collectors. It was an exclusive privilege to be invited in to David’s Aladdin’s cave nestled behind the imposing red brick Bryant & May Match Factory in Richmond Victoria.
David’s shed/warehouse has always been rightly regarded as one of the best of the best in vintage/classic cars and collectables. His 1972 Ferrari 246 GT Dino and triple concours winning MGTF are almost dwarfed by the wall of garage memorabilia, which conjures up thoughts of what some of the big service stations in St. Kilda or Camberwell junctions may have looked like in their hay day.
Scarcely seen garaganalia including petrol pumps are spread throughout the warehouse, a highlight is the Rolls-Royce of pumps, the 1923 Wayne ‘Corinthian’ 5-gallon petrol pump. This pump is so large and imposing, it’s almost like the Acropolis overlooking Athens!
Antique display cases are full, and the walls of the garage are lined with some extremely desirable advertising material and signs, most being Australian oil companies. With David working for Mobil Oil Company in his youth he was actively collecting oil related memorabilia dating back 40 years and well before the boom of the collecting category. Fortunately, he had the both a keen eye and means to buy good quality items which he always did.
David’s automotive passion also extended to model cars and related collectables. He had amassed a sizeable array of various sized models, which often related or mirrored the 1:1 scale counterparts which were housed in the garage, owned at some stage or on the wish list!
The quality of this 1000+ lot auction of an institutional figure like David Jones AO OBE KstJ, is rarely seen on the market these days, and a collection of this quality and diversity is unlikely to be replicated.
