Trina and John Hastings from Crib Point pictured after their museum tour.
Residents of Corowa were delighted to see the Florence Thomson Tour roll into town over the weekend, celebrating the pioneering spirit and contributions of women to Australian motoring.
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The tour kicked off in Wangaratta with a bang, as more than 165 people and over 75 classic vehicles travelled throughout the North East region to take part in the event.
The tour was named after Florence Thomson, who made history in 1901 when she became the first woman to drive a car in Australia.
Classic vehicles lined up at the Corowa Civic Centre carpark.
Thomson, who was a prominent suffragette and advocate for women's rights, purchased her first car, a De Dion Bouton, in France and had it shipped to Australia.
She drove the car around Melbourne, attracting crowds and media attention wherever she went. Thomson's pioneering spirit and determination inspired many women to follow in her footsteps, and the Florence Thomson Tour pays tribute to her legacy.
The event is also an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of other women to the world of motoring, both past and present.
One of the unique features of the tour was the encouragement for participants to dress in attire matching the time period of their vehicle, adding an extra layer of nostalgia and historical authenticity to the event.
Saturday's tour included a stop at the Corowa Federation Museum, where participants were given a guided tour of the museum and were able to see a range of exhibits, including photographs, artifacts, and documents related to the Corowa Conference and the history of the railway station.
Participants of the tour were encouraged to dress up to match the era of their vehicle.
The museum volunteers told the Free Press they were thrilled to welcome over 100 people on Saturday, predominantly people who were part of the tour, and were pleased to receive feedback about the standard and how well-kept the collection was.
The museum visit was followed by a display of the cars at the Corowa Civic Centre car park.
