Holden WB Ute Gathering: Cruising from Moama to Mathoura

Owners from three states this weekend gathered at Mathoura with their slick WB utes, the hottest ride in the country back in the 1980s.

Vintage Holden WB Ute Gathering organiser Shaun Trotter, from Moama, with his brother Leigh Murphy, from Lethbridge. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

The purring engines and gleaming paintwork of classic Holden utes lining the banks of the Murray River was a welcome flashback for Rupanyup grain grower Paul Oxbrow.

“It brings back some memories of being a teenager to a young adult, and going to functions and B&S balls,” said Paul, who bought his 1983 Kingswood WB ute eight months ago.

“After wanting one for 30 years, I thought I’d finally buy one. They were an iconic farm ute back in the ’80s.”

Crop farmer Paul Oxbrow from Rupanyup with his 1983 Kingswood. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Vintage Holden Ute owner Rob Menadue, from Deniliquin, with his original 1981 Kingswood. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Paul is one of 50 Holden owners who travelled from across Victoria, NSW and South Australia last Saturday to attend the first annual WB Ute Gathering at Moama and Mathoura.

As founder of the Wimmera’s long-running Barley Banquet, Paul said he appreciated the huge effort that went into pulling off the WB rally, which took place at riverside restaurant The Timbercutter.

Event organiser Shaun Trotter said Holden’s WB series had been produced for just five years, from 1980 to 1984, and in that time carved itself a place in history.

Event organiser Shaun Trotter, from Moama, with brother Leigh Murphy, from Lethbridge. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Vintage Holden Ute Gathering at Mathoura NSW. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

“The love of these WB utes started for myself and so many others when we turned 18 and wanted a practical, good looking – and sounding – ute,” he said. “Nowadays they’re still a much loved and sought-after vehicle.”

Paul drove about 300km to attend, and said his 40-year-old machine handled the potholed tarmac well.

“It seems built for the current poor roads we’ve got. It just floats along,” he said.

“Shaun has made a fantastic effort to pull off a well organised day, which brought a lot of us together. There will be a lot more next year.”