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 Meets this year [2023] .