VicRoads revs up over old motorbike number plates

Mark Dunn
January 17, 2008
(Herald Sun)

A MELBOURNE man is fighting VicRoads over the rights to rare number plates valued at more than $100,000.

Panel-beater Paul Koinegg bought the almost century-old number 32 motorcycle number plates six months ago for just a few thousand dollars, after stumbling upon them at a Tyabb antique dealer's. But their registration had lapsed in 1956, and VicRoads intends to offer the rights to the plates at public auction. Since learning of Mr Koinegg's find, VicRoads has warned him not to use or sell the original plates as registered plates, unless he bids for the right to register them.

Mr Koinegg has researched their history and found that they were registered to the prominent Syme newspaper family between 1916 and 1956.But because they had not been registered since 1956, VicRoads argues Mr Koinegg is unable to register them in his name, because it was not transferred to him directly from the Syme family.

After the registration lapsed, the plates passed from Jeffrey Syme to a rural owner. They were later sold at a farm auction, and finally picked up by the antique dealer who sold them to Mr Koinegg.VicRoads has asked for the number plates to be handed back to it, so it can be sold at public auction.

Mr Koinegg said he wanted to keep the plates and register them as an investment for his children."I own the piece of tin but I don't own the rights, and that's what stinks," Mr Koinegg said. He said VicRoads antique plate registry in Kew had verified the authenticity of the plates." I just came across something I'll probably never come across again in my life," he said. "I have absolutely no intention of selling it. It was going to be for my children."

Mr Koinegg said he had spoken to two lawyers but they were unable to give him clear advice on legal options. VicRoads technical director Peter Mitchem said Mr Koinegg had bought the plates but not the right to register them.

"Having possession of the physical plates does not automatically mean that the display rights are available," Mr Mitchem said. "VicRoads has recorded Mr Koinegg's interest in the display rights for the particular heritage plates, and will contact him to advise him if the plates are to be auctioned in the future."

Mr Mitchem said buyers should check the rights to display number plates before purchasing them.

This article can be found at: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23064035-2862,00.html

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Below is a follow up to this story by the webmaster at HeritagePlates.net

I read this story with interest on the day it appeared in the Herald Sun in early January and something didn't seem right. Firstly I put the word out to get a good colour photo of the #32 plate that appeared in the article (the tiny grayscale photo that appeared in the paper was useless) and a few hours later I had a great colour image sitting on my desk. I then went through my list of old records of the original owners of numeric plates to see if the Syme family did in fact own the Vic #32 in a motorcycle format. My initial suspicions proved to be correct and here's what I found...

The actual plate in this story is not a number plate at all. It is most likely a telegraph pole marker which were commonly used around Australia in the later part of the 1900's.
The number dies used on the plate were introduced in the 1950's so it's impossible for this plate to be dated any earlier
Even if this was a motorcycle plate from post 1950, it would have the VIC state abbreviation which was and still is mandatory, and...
The dimensions of these type of telegraph pole plates are smaller than an official issue motorcycle plate
Finally, the colours are completely incorrect. I've handled a myriad of older number plates and I'm yet to see an old Vic plate on a yellow base!

One important point of interest is the historical aspect of the number. The Syme family did in fact own Vic #32 from 1910 but not on a motorcycle. From 1910 numbers were issued as vehicle registrations beginning at number #1, this is common knowledge. What isn't commonly known is the fact that cars and motorcycles were in the same vehicle class up until 1932, therefore there couldn't be a Vic #32 car and a Vic #32 motorcycle at the same time. My records show that the Syme family had Vic #32 registered to a car from 1910 and there appears to be no record of the family ever having a motorcycle registered in their name with this number.

So, the fellow that purchased this plate or 'piece of tin' from the antique dealer for a 'few thousand dollars' has very little hope of claiming the rights to a number plate....he may however be able to claim ownership of a telegraph pole somewhere out in suburbia.

Right: The photo supplied to me taken by the Herald-Sun's photographer showing the #32 plate in greater detail. For some unknown reason the second plate in the photo was cropped out in the article and there was no mention of it.

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