Lifestyle & Entertainment
8 November, 2025
Steam rally a smash hit
CROWDS from far and wide descended on Lake Goldsmith last weekend for the 126th edition of the world-famous Steam and Vintage Rally. Punters were thrilled to see stunning examples of vintage engineering at its best and were treated to a special presentation that celebrated 100 years of Caterpillar, the world’s foremost name in construction and mining equipment.
For Phil Smyth, being part of the organising committee who brings the rally to life is an absolute pleasure, and he was proud to report the event had been a huge hit.
“It was a hugely successful weekend,” Mr Smyth said.
“We had around 1500 or so through the gate, and there’s quite a few people on-site, exhibitors, vendors, helpers and things like that, so we were pretty much at capacity.”
Storm clouds hovered around the region throughout the day on Sunday but luckily, Lake Goldsmith was dry for most of the day.
“We just fluked the weather, we even got everything packed up and put away before the rain came, we were really lucky there,” he said.
The addition of the Caterpillar crew’s 100th anniversary display was a big highlight for Mr Smyth.
“There’ve done a few events over the 12-month period, and this was the only one where they had a demonstration area so they were really happy,” he said.
“To actually have them working, for spectators to be able to stand that close to a D9 actually working and pushing dirt, you can’t normally do that any other day.
“For the people coming through the gate, they got a lot for their money really, the amount of stuff to see and to get up close with the Caterpillars doing those demonstrations, it was a really unique opportunity.”
Mr Smyth said that the passion that drives people to be involved with the steam rally is something unique and worth celebrating.
“We’ve been going 50-odd years now, we’re kinda on the third generation I suppose,” he said.
“I went there as a kid because my old man went there, now my kids are going there and got tractors and steam engines and stuff, so it’s an interesting cycle how it keeps evolving.”
Among the visitors who decided to make the pilgrimage to Lake Goldsmith was railway enthusiast Will James, whose documents his international railway adventures across the internet via his Will James Railways YouTube and Facebook channels.
“The Lake Goldsmith Steam Rally was a fantastic event, and well worth the 2 hour drive up from Melbourne, there’s just so much to see and do,” said Mr James.
“The sheer variety and quality of the working vintage machinery on display is incredible, and it’s easy to see why the rally can successfully run twice a year.
“I was particularly impressed by the traction engines trundling around the side, and the working former Fyansford steam cranes, the Bucyrus and the Ruston Hornsby No. 4 Face Shovel, both spectacular examples of industrial history in motion.”
Mr James said he was pleasantly surprised that the steam rally had plenty to offer for rail fans.
“I was amazed at how much railway heritage was woven through the site, from headlamps, number plates, destination boards, whistles and signs to former workmen’s sleeper huts and other relics of the Victorian Railways era,” he said, “I can’t wait to come back in May to see it all again.”
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