Vintage Golden Fleece back to their original best
A 12-month restoration project has seen an iconic piece of hinterland history retained locally and painstakingly restored to its former glory along with two vintage fuel bowsers.
Sommers Fuel Supply in Witta has just unveiled the recently completed restoration of the much loved former Watson’s Garage Golden Fleece sign along with two beautifully refurbished 1940s era petrol bowsers. Owner, Trevor Sommers, said the amount of interest from locals and visitors had been phenomenal.
He added as soon as he realised the well-known former Watson’s garage sign might be offered for sale, he had spent some time negotiating with the new owner of the Maleny premises and promised if sold to him, he would keep the sign local. He said he was humbled and pleased to have so many older residents express their delight that the sign hadn’t been auctioned off and sold to an interstate collector, but had been retained and restored here in the Hinterland. Trevor said he had undertaken the renovation project with local restorer, Shane Bailey, and he estimated to date he had spent around $50,000 to purchase, restore and install the sign and bowsers onsite at his family’s long running fuel business. “I’m still a bit scared to add up the final figures! I just paid as we went along and it was certainly more than I had originally budgeted for – but I couldn’t stop!” laughed Trevor.
“So many older residents have told me how happy they are that the Golden Fleece sign hasn’t left – I tell them the sheep is still here in Maleny, it’s just moved to a different paddock!”
Shane said it had been a pleasure to restore both the iconic sign and fuel bowsers.
He said ever since he had moved to the area, as a ‘fuel bowser and car freak’ collector and restorer, he always had an eye on the Golden Fleece sign, and when Trevor mentioned it was up for sale, Shane said he was thrilled to be able to re-illuminate and re-condition it to its former glory. He said to the best of his knowledge, the sign was the only one in the world like it on display.
“This sign is such an iconic part of Maleny’s history, it was an honour to have the opportunity to recondition it and put it up for public display again,” Shane said. “Most times a sign like this would be sitting in someone’s private collection or in a shed.
“It’s so wonderful to see it lit up at night again.”
Main image: Trevor Sommer at his Witta service station with his recently refurbished Golden Fleece sign and bowsers.