Dr Peter Burgess is selling off much of his private collection of old vehicles, steam engines and farm equipment to help fund his latest restoration project.

Dr Burgess, who arrived in Bathurst as the city’s first orthopaedic surgeon in 1974, has turned his attention to restoring historic buildings in the main street of Sofala and has engaged Burns & Co Auctions of Mildura to co-ordinate the two day sale of his private collection.

Also going under the hammer will be a fully restored Garrett portable engine and a vintage Fowler traction engine that dates back to the 1800s.

“Steam is my big interest but I’m also interested in old farm equipment,” Dr Burgess said.

“The Garrett portable steam engine came from the Tamworth area where it was fully restored by a friend, complete with a new boiler. The original boiler will be lot number two at the auction.

“Then there’s the Fowler traction engine, and we have an old photo of it driving a stamp battery out at Lewis Ponds, near Byng, around the turn of the last century.

“And there is also an Abeille petrol engine from a factory in the north of France which the Germans took over during the First World War to service their own equipment.

“It’s one of only four in the world and the only one in Australia.”

Dr Burgess said there was some sadness in seeing his collection go but also a “certain elation” to be clearing it all out.

Marketing co-ordinator Michael Di Fabrizio from Burns & Co said a total of 876 lots would go under the hammer.

He said there would be up to 100 bidders on-site but also a large number of enthusiasts bidding online.

“There has been a lot of interest already,” Mr Di Fabrizio said.

“We have been coming back and forth from Mildura for about two months to get everything ready and work out which order we should go in.”

The clearing sale will be at 1263 Sofala Road, Peel on Saturday and Sunday, June 24 and 25, starting at 10am each day.

Visit for www.burnsandco.com.au for more information.