24/08/2026
Menindee Rally
This week’s rally had been delayed due to bad weather, but thankfully the wait was worthwhile. Although it was still quite cool, the sun was shining and there was no rain to spoil the day.
Today’s rally was organised by Ben and Cathy, with members leaving Westside at 9.30 am. The departure time allowed for the difference between EST and CST.
Our first stop was Quondong for morning tea. Along the way, we passed the historic Rockwell Hotel, located 10 miles from town. The hotel opened in 1888 before eventually burning down in 1976.
On arrival at Quondong, Ben and Cathy had organised a wonderful morning tea, with a selection of cakes as well as a healthy option. The hotel had opened in 1891 and closed its doors in 2000, only to burn down the following year.
Soon it was time to head off to Maidens Hotel in Menindee. The hotel was destroyed by fire in 1999 but was subsequently rebuilt. It is the second-oldest hotel in continuous operation and has a fascinating history. Burke and Wills used Maidens as a staging post during their disastrous 1860 expedition.
At Maidens, we had the dining room to ourselves and enjoyed choosing from the extensive lunch menu. After lunch, we headed off on a short drive to the Blores Car Collection.
Bernard was there to welcome us and show us this hidden treasure in Menindee. The collection is housed in an immaculate, fully lined and insulated shed. Bernard explained that while temperatures outside can reach 48°C, the temperature inside the shed can remain a comfortable 24°C.
All members took advantage of the unlimited access to the collection and agreed that it was a fantastic display. Bernard and Sue have spent many years putting the collection together, with an amazing range of vehicles and memorabilia on display, right down to Sue’s Kombi van.
It was a great day out, with good company, interesting history, an enjoyable lunch and a fantastic collection of cars to finish the day.
A big thank you to Wendy, Ben and Rodney for supplying the photos of the collection.
