Graham Rose began his working life in the automotive industry as an apprentice panel beater which soon advanced to open his own business –     Graham next  opened    a five acre  wrecking yard  Maidstone Auto Wreckers and later, a retail speed shop.in Footscray .and wife Pearl opened an Antique shop  Matildas Old Wares also in Maidstone.

Following a stint at speedway racing,at Tracey,s Speedway in Melbourne  Graham went on to become a national identity in drag racing and on return from a visit to a speed equipment trade show in the USA in 1976, launched Australia’s first Automotive Aftermarket Trade Show and the first Automotive Parts and Accessories Trade Journal.

Also at this time Graham and his wife Pearl began promoting Antiques and Collectables Fairs at the Royal Exhibition Buildings, the Camberwell Civic Centre and the Malvern Town Hall.

Automotive Swap Meets were added in 1993 at the Footscray Fresh Centre until the venue was no longer available and moved to the old John Deere manufacturing complex in Cranbourne.

From there they moved to the Cranbourne Racecourse and  later the Pakenham Racecourse  and    the Pakenham Football  Ground , ,Dandenong Showgrounds and    events at a number of venues around Victoria  including Werribee and Regional Victoria at Geelong,and  Ballan

SPECIAL NOTE;;;;;;

Fast forward to now and following our recent move to Colac in Western Victoria where they launched Swap  Meets  at the Colac Showgrounds,  they  have now decided following the  out break of Covid which saw the cancellation of most   events over the past two years that   they   will      only be promoting  with the twice annual Colac Swap Meet . 

 UPDATE;;   IN A RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT THEY HAVE DECIDED TO RETIRE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR AND ARE SEEKING ANY INTERESTED PARTIES TO AQUIRE THE   ANNUAL COLAC SWAP MEET. CONTACT GRAHAM FOR INFORMATION.