Vintage harvest to come alive in the Riverina

A pioneering spectacle is set to jump off the history pages in January 2025 when one of Australia’s largest private collections of vintage headers is fired up to harvest a southern NSW wheat crop. 

In a scene reminiscent of the 1920s and 1930s, 27 tractor-drawn vintage headers will hit the paddocks for the one-off Warrangong Vintage Harvest Day on Saturday, January 11 at his Pleasant Hill farm near Henty. 

The collection is owned by farmer and vintage header collector Kerry Pietsch, who wants to give young, old, rural and urban people the chance to see, hear and smell living history. 

“It will be a scene not witnessed in the Australian bush for generations and will give a unique insight into how our forefathers farmed a century ago,” he said. 

“Most of these old headers will only ever sit in machinery sheds – it is rare to see them operating and it will be a once in a lifetime event to have so many together in the one crop.’’ 

The vintage harvest day will feature an array of restored and working harvesters, winnowers, strippers, chaff cutters and tractors, harvesting a 15ha crop of the heritage wheat variety Ford. 

Related: Myriad attractions hit the Henty sweet spot

A centrepiece will be a restored 1925 Sunshine Auto Header which was designed by Henty’s Headlie Shipard Taylor and marked its centenary in 2024 at the Henty Machinery Field Days.

Kerry’s wider collection spans a stripper, headers and harvesters, including horse-drawn, PTO and self-propelled machines – of every make and model, jockeying for space in an ever-increasing number of sheds. There’s also a homemade header comprising a Gleaner crawler tractor converted to a harvester with planks of wood on the tracks to help with traction in wet conditions. It featured two gear boxes – one to drive the tractor and one to operate the harvester. 

Kerry’s favourite? A fully restored US-manufactured Cockshutt once belonging to his uncle. 

Gates will open at 8am on January 11, with demonstrations starting at 9am. Vintage machinery enthusiast Kevin Elphick will provide talks throughout the day, while food and refreshments will be for sale. 

Entry is $22 for adults, concession $18, children 12-16 years $10 and under 12 free. For more information follow the event’s Facebook page.