“It started with one tractor” Mervyn Polzin said of his lifetime collection of tractors, trucks and other farming machinery which were put up for auction on the weekend.
The farmer, based on Queensland’s Darling Downs amassed more than 60 tractors, a Chevrolet collection, a number of Utes and trucks over more than 40 years, but decided it was time to find them a new home as he gets older.
Merv Polzin
“At one point my brother and I had 100 tractors and 50 trucks or so, plus other machines, but there comes a time in life when you have to bite the bit and make a hard decision,” Mr Polzin said.
“My brother passed away in July and I am the last man standing (from my family), plus in October a bike threw me over a log, I broke nine ribs and a few more fractures and I had to go to the panel beaters, so I thought it was time to cut down and move some things on.
“So, I have half of my cattle, and I did keep a few toys for myself, but the rest of the collection has been spread to every state in Australia just about, including Tasmania.”
The auction was held at Mr Polzin’s property outside of Toowoomba on Saturday with a crowd of more than 800 people.
It was a clearing sale like no other according to agent Wade Hartwig from Hartwig and Bliss Livestock Property Sales.
“I have never been to a clearing sale of that size with that sort of gear. There were over 400 bid cards registered and buyers from Western Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales and North Queensland, which is a true testament to the quality of Mervyn’s collection,” Mr Hartwig said.
“There was a tractor there that was the first tractor his parents bought in the 1950’s and because collectors had travelled from far and wide to be there if there was something they wanted, they would go hard to get it.”
Mr Polzin decided ahead of the auction that the proceeds would be donated to St Andrew’s Hospital in Toowoomba and the Royal Flying Doctors Service.
“They need it more than I do and it will help people right across Qld. Helping others is more satisfying than anything else,” Mr Polzin said.
A few highlights from the sale were:
- Massey Ferguson 35X Tractor $23,000
- John Deere Model B $15,000
- Ford 7000 Tractor $14,000
- Custom C-10 Chevrolet Ute $27,000
- Chevrolet Lend Lease Truck $14,000
- GMC 1941 6×6 Truck $22,500
- German Wagon $4,750
- GMC Ute $20,000
Massey Ferguson 35X Tractor. (Supplied by: Hartwig & Bliss Livestock & Property)
Supplied by: Hartwig & Bliss Livestock & Property
Crowd at Mervyn Polzin’s Lifetime Collection Auction. (Supplied by: Hartwig & Bliss Livestock & Property)
Supplied by: Hartwig & Bliss Livestock & Property
Supplied by: Hartwig & Bliss Livestock & Property