Welcome to the AMHF

The AMHF exists to preserve, promote, and celebrate Australia’s motor heritage — recognising the vital role the motor has played in shaping our nation’s history, economy, and way of life.

From early transport and manufacturing to engineering innovation, regional connectivity, and motorsport achievement, the motor has been central to Australia’s development. The AMHF is dedicated to ensuring this rich heritage is protected, recorded, and shared for the benefit of current and future generations.

Located at Sydney Motorsport Park, Eastern Creek, Australia’s heart of motoring passion, the AMHF is a strategic partner of the Australian Racing Drivers Club (ARDC).

Our Vision

Our vision is for AMHF to be a world‑renowned, go‑to resource for Australia’s automotive achievements – trusted, accessible, and respected both nationally and internationally.

What We Do

The AMHF’s collection started with our chair Hugh King’s personal library. Since then it has attracted other special material including the late historian Graham Howard’s unique motor racing archive collection; journalist John Mellor’s extensive library of media releases, brochures and images; John O’Farrell’s brochure collection; Brian Lear’s collection of newspaper clippings and magazine reports of racing and events from 1903 to 1984; and the irreplaceable written and photographic archives of Herbert Thomson, who was the first person to design build and sell a car in Australia.

Preservation

Today, the AMHF works to detect, collect, protect, record, and showcase materials and items of motor heritage significance. This includes books, magazines, materials, images, film and stories that reflect Australia’s automotive achievements and leadership.

We are particularly keen to help preserve the historical knowledge that exists in the thousands of motor clubs across Australia and we’re also eager to preserve our history of motor racing, of motor cycling, and of road haulage by truck or bus.

We have established a library and archive for this purpose. It is a research library and we are aiming to make our information available in digital form as widely as possible via an interactive database. Our book and magazine collection has tens of thousands of volumes. We also have a substantial and growing collection of audio-visual items that includes photos, brochures, prints and videos.

Promotion

We also seek to inform and influence the community and government about the importance of the motor to Australia’s past, present, and future — fostering understanding, education, and public access to this important national story.

Celebration

We are working to be the primary go-to resource centre of Australia’s automotive contribution and leadership, and to foster social cohesion through public seminars, lectures and informal gatherings so we can share our passion for motoring with the widest possible audience.

We would also like to become a source of information for the automotive and advertising industries, journalists, preservationists and inventive entrepreneurs, and to connect with and participate digitally with the many overseas foundations and heritage centres having similar objectives.

Powered by Community

The AMHF brings together volunteers, donors, supporters, industry, government, enthusiasts, media, and the broader community. Through collaboration and shared commitment, we work to ensure Australia’s motor heritage is preserved with integrity and celebrated as we’re proud of our past and passionate about our future.

Curated and managed solely by volunteers, the AMHF is a registered charity, with Deductible Gift Recipient status for the Library. We depend on the generosity of our friends and supporters, and greatly value your support to enable us to expand our archive and champion Australia’s motoring heritage.

Preserve. Promote. Celebrate.

AMHF is committed to protecting Australia’s motor story — today and for generations to come.

If you would like to join us, volunteer or provide the Foundation with a gift, please let us know.

Partner Organisations and Foundations

The AMHF is part of an extended group of organisations all over the world who share common goals and values.