

Burns & Co are privileged to have another 1968 Holden HK GTS 327 Monaro in their stables for the 7th August Classic Car and Motor Bike Auction to be held in Bayswater, Melbourne.
Owners John and Michelle are long time car collectors having both owned HK Monaro’s over the journey.
As long time car lovers both John and Michelle have watched many car actions and have purchased through different auction houses.
Its Johns opinion that none have Ashley’s enthusiasm and passion on auction day and the care for the cars shown by the Burns & Co crew.
John and Michelle hope to do more travelling in the future, purchase a caravan and hit the road but are planning to be here on the 7th August to see the Warrick Yellow HK go under the hammer
Year Identification
John Furphy, the founder of the Furphy Enterprise, started as a blacksmith and wheelwright in 1864 when he was just 22 years of age.
After finishing his apprenticeship with Hutcheson and Walker, John set out to start his own business which thrived to carry his name for over 150 years.
One of the most collectable items that came from John’s endeavours was the Furphy water tanks. They were manufactured to provide transportation of water on farms, this was a solution that was much needed during a significant drought between 1895 and 1902. The potential to have a joint unit of a water tank and cart to transport water was revolutionary.
Cast Iron concave ends were designed, and to this day are classic collector’s item.
With over 100 years of manufacturing these tank ends, the iconic designs had some slight changes which help identify the year of production.
One of Australia’s most desirable and iconic enamel signs is soon to be offered by Burns & Co.
Harold Crofton Sleigh was born on 19th of May 1867 in Bristol, England.
He left for Australia in 1888 and became involved in barge traffic on the rivers Murray & Darling.
Sleigh owned the steamer Emu in 1891 & Ethel Jackson from Bourke, NSW.
Around 1893 he began working for Harold Brothers, ship brokers & owners of Melbourne, and while with that company he privately tendered for a contract in which his employers were interested.
He won the contract, which was to carry coal from Newcastle, NSW for the Western Australian Government Railways for two years.
Over the next period of time Sleigh was involved in shipping to New Zealand, South Africa and elsewhere.
Sleigh started in the petroleum trade in 1913, when a customer was unable to pay freight on a shipment of Californian motor spirit & the company took possession of the consignment.
In 1917 he registered the trade name ” Golden Fleece” for “illuminating, heating and lubricating oils, including petrol, benzine and kerosene.”
He got a Californian oil company to supply 4-gallon tins of motor spirit, branded “Golden Fleece”
By 1923 shipments of the motor spirit were arriving monthly.
In 1919 the company had an outlet at 2 Bridge Street, Sydney selling “Summit” lubricating oils & ” Golden Fleece” gasoline. By 1923 they had premises at 228 – 230 Prime Street, Adelaide, and a bulk storage depot at Albert Park.
Sleigh was attributed to opening the first single brand service station in Melbourne in the late 1920’s
The “Hanging Ram” logo was one of the Golden Fleece’s first and these two examples are in very good condition for age being nearly 100 years old and are deemed to be the country’s most desirable oil bottles.
A massive thanks to all our vendors from Queenscliff and Werribee, our awesome staff for getting this catalogue up and going, all our contractors and of course all the many purchasers from every mainland state, Territories, Tasmania and New Zealand.
The statistics show the story….have a look below, we’ve shown the top 20 lots to give you some idea of the quality and the value…mind blowing!
167 Lots
203 Registrations
19,083 Catalogue views
2,903 Total bids
From the 1950’s the sign was made by Claude Neon, Sydney and held a prominent position on the corner of Early and Church Street, Parramatta before being carefully removed and preserved for all to enjoy.
Being a one only sign this is not only a fantastic investment opportunity but an absolute must for those that appreciate quality over quantity.
More information to follow!
As the demand of quality collectables reaches new heights, our catalogue represents some of the highest quality items that are offered. From lot 1 through to the very end on Sunday afternoon.
A massive thanks to all our vendors from far North Queensland to South Australia and everywhere in between, our awesome staff for getting this catalogue up and going, all our contractors and of course all the many purchasers from every mainland state, Territories, Tasmania and New Zealand.
The statistics show the story….have a look below, we’ve shown the top 20 lots to give you some idea of the quality and the value…mind blowing!
844 Lots
469 Registrations
55,197 Catalogue views
11,408 Total bids
The 1977 end was built in very limited numbers with the idea that the smaller tank would fit in to a conventional utility… the idea never really took off, hence the rarity