A National Bottle and Collectables Show will come to Geelong for the first time in its 45-year history this weekend.
The show will feature collections of almost everything – from radios and milk carts to historic bikes and salt shakers.
Geelong Bottle and Collectables Club president David Smith said the show would have 170 displays with “museum quality items”.
“There are items which have never been seen in public and likely never will be again.”
Smith, an avid bottle collector, joined the club a decade ago.
“I’m fairly new on the block,” he said.
His love affair with 1960s and pre-1920s bottles began 25 years ago.
“I walked into a shop in Cairns and there were some very beautiful coloured glass bottles on sale,” he said.
It doesn’t matter if it’s soft drink, beer, chemicals or poison – so long as it’s glass container, Smith said.
He was particularly keen to see a unique King Beer bottle – worth about $30,000 – which will be on display at the show.
The 50-year-old also has a large assortment of odd items – with one thing in common.
“So long as it’s got Geelong on it,” he said.
David’s local items will join Geelong Cats vice-president Bob Gartland’s lifetime collection of rare club memorabilia.
Mr Gartland had never put the collection on display, David said.
Show patrons will be able to buy, swap and sell collectables, with 250 metres of selling, valuations and a specialist 150-lot auction.
“A lot of the items will be once only,” Smith said.
Geelong Bottle and Collectables Club was 35 years old but still had three founding members, Smith said.
The 45th National Bottle and Collectables Show will be at the Geelong Showgounds’ Agricultural Hall from 22 to 23 October.
Smith said more information about the show was available by phoning 0419 434 306.
