There was a taste of nostalgia in the air this week as a group of intrepid travelers visited Temora on Monday 13 July, in period dress and vintage cars as they started their journey home after a weekend at the Leeton Art Deco Festival. The festival is held annually and celebrates the inter war period of the 1920s, 30s and 40s. It started in 2019 and was inspired by the towns rich Art Deco heritage of architecture and historic streetscapes. Calling themselves the Iceburgs the group of 16 attend the festival every second year coming from as far away as Hobart, Western Sydney, Central Coast and Picton. They are all also members of the Buick car club and drive in convoy to visit festivals and events whenever they get the opportunity in these vintage pieces of motoring history. After spending the weekend in Leeton, after each festival they devote time to exploring the region and the historic towns dotted throughout the area. This year Temora was their destination and after some lunch at the Fed and Bed they were heading to the Temora Aviation Museum. The preferred period of this group is the 1930’s and 40s and the museum has aircraft such as the Spitfire that encapsulate the spirit of the era. Aviation heritage in Temora began in 1941 when the RAAF established a flight training school that was to become the largest of the World War II era. One of the group, Robert Bell, said that they meet lots of people from different worlds, dance to old music and were able, on this occasion, to have a game of vintage golf. “Temora is a lovely town we're sitting in a cafe, enjoying ourselves, having some toasties and a respite from driving the convoy,” Mr Bell said. “Our journey takes us through the Blue Mountains, Lithgow, Orange and Bathurst. “There is always something in these rural towns, always something hidden away you just have to sniff it out.” Temora Shire Mayor Rick Firman greeted the group, as several parked near his men’s wear store, and he commented on what Temora must have looked like in time period represented by the group. “You can imagine the people back then dressed well and all these beautiful old cars.”
