Step back in time

If ever you’ve wanted to know what it was like to live back in grandpa and grandma’s time, you’d just love the Cleary Bros (CB) Historic Museum. Based in the Illawarra, CB was established way back in 1916 by Jack Cleary and his two brothers.
100 years on, CB maintains a strong family focus, with many third and fourth generation family members involved in the company on a range of levels. It’s these family values and community spirit that’s kept the company going strong over the last century and into the next.
Tied to this history is the CB Historic Museum at Port Kembla. Maintained for the CB community, each year the museum opens its doors to the public and raises funds for charitable causes close to the company’s heart and the local community. Last year $7,600 was raised for the Big Dry Drought Appeal – giving a cash injection to families impacted by the drought. This year the Illawarra Community Foundation will receive much-needed philanthropic funds to help people in and around the Illawarra region.
Packed with significant quarrying, earth moving and construction machinery from the past, each lovingly restored machine carries a piece of history in its body. There are more than 30 pieces of vintage machinery on display – bringing in crowds from Sydney and surrounding areas to check out the beautifully restored classics on display.
WesTrac has a long and proud history with CB, and we're delighted that one of the centerpieces of the museum is a Caterpillar vintage D2 tractor.
Standing the test of time, this iconic machine was first introduced in 1938, with the last of the series rolling off the manufacturing line in 1957. Always a crowd favourite, the D2 is a compact crawler tractor much-loved for its ruggedness and ease of maintenance.
If you’d like to see it in person, why not take a trip out to the museum this Spring? The Cleary Bros Historic Museum Open Day takes place on Sunday September 8 2019, from 8.30am to 1.30pm.
Don't miss out on your chance to see a Cat D2 up close and donate to a good cause in the process!
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