World's best 4WD club

When Alex King, and six other Australian Toyota Landcruiser owners, met in 1969, to consider the possibility of forming a club, they could not have imagined that their enthusiasm would create the basis of (probably) the world’s best club for four-wheel drive vehicles.

In the 1960s, 4WDs were rarely bought for private use. The majority of buyers were government departments, mining companies, primary producers, and businesses where it was essential to have a vehicle/s with 4WD traction.

The new club was helped considerably by the Thiess company; (then) distributors of Toyota commercial vehicles in Australia. Thiess provided part of their premises for club meetings, assisted with photocopying etc, bore the cost of producing the initial club decals and metal badges, and promoted the existence of the club through their dealer network.

Good management by the club’s committee, and the boom in sales of 4WDs for recreational use, resulted in a rapid increase in membership. From the initial seven vehicles, there were (eventually) more than one thousand.

The initiatives, charity, and community assistance provided by the Toyota Land Cruiser Club of Australia (TLCC) have given it a good public profile. And the club’s resolve to promote awareness of the environment, and the responsible use of 4WD vehicles, means that its opinions are (usually) respected by government bodies, such as the National Parks & Wildlife Service.

Over the years, the TLCC members have assisted the community in many ways. They always participate in the removal of dumped cars, and other rubbish, from the bush on Clean Up Australia Day, and help various charities wherever possible. In 1994, the members organized a massive undertaking; a convoy of 4WDs to carry ten wheelchair-bound people, plus a back-up medical team, on a tour of arid Central Australia. Then, during the 2000 Olympics, the club took 38 members of the Swiss Paralympic Team for a mild off-road excursion into the Aussie bush.

In 1992, the TLCC voted to purchase ‘Koolandilly’, 57 acres of magnificent land on the Wollondilly River. This allowed the members to have their own, pristine, camping area just a couple of hours drive from Sydney. Then, in 1994, the TLCC bought the adjoining 175 acre property to ensure that the serenity of Koolandilly was never disturbed.

Koolandilly was fine for camping, but the club needed an area where they could conduct their driver-training days and also hold 4WD events. This requirement led to the purchase of the Willowglen Estate; 296 acres of rugged country between Sydney and Canberra.

Such is the professionalism of driving training and education carried out by the TLCC, the state government has certified the club as a Registered Training Organization.

The TLCC will shortly celebrate its 40th anniversary. Congratulations, and well done!