Hastings Street’s Marque of Elegance at Noosa Concours
When the beach town’s famous boulevard morphed into a vibrant showcase of automotive excellence for excited enthusiasts and visitors, Helen Flanagan went along for the ride.
The hub of closed-off Hastings Street was Noosa Concours d’Elegance this July, the excitement palpable and the experience like no other, with car enthusiasts and luxury-seekers mingling and ogling an impressive display of rare and desirable cars, exquisite craftsmanship and beauty. It really is the epitome of automobile excellence, an unmissable celebration of masterpieces for the curious, as well as connoisseurs of art and style, to gather and admire more than 80 cars.
Complementary displays included Bowden’s Own Motorsports with Prestige Car Display with iconic marques such as Maserati, Lamborghini, Bentley, McLaren, Aston Martin, Porsche, BMW and Mercedes Benz, also Max Hoffmann’s rare Porsche Speedster, celebrating its 70th anniversary together with the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300SL; the Sleeping Beauties Restoration company’s restoration in motion of a 1956 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing SL; and a bespoke collection of cars at the eastern end of Hastings Street, including four Ferraris and two of McLaren’s rarest models.
Many joined hosted tours with experts, while others popped into the Sofitel Noosa’s Beach Bar for a celebratory champagne; viewed art and pearl exhibitions; and appreciated various music podiums – from classic and jazz to pop, even an orchestra – while admiring beautifully attired car owners and best-in-show pooches.
At noon, a spectacular addition to the event was the reigning Red Bull Air Race world champion and Royal Australian Air Force Top Gun Fighter Pilot Matt Hall, who took to the skies for the very first time over Noosa in a performance presented by The Sunshine Coast Jet Centre. There were gasps from the crowd as Matt performed a series of twists and turns, steep climbs skyward and dives towards the ocean. A highlight was the awards ceremony, where the 2024 winners were announced.
At the ceremony, Australian entrepreneur and aviator Dick Smith commented that being a free event made Noosa Concours more accesible than the renowned Pebble Beach event in California, where the general admission is $495USD per person; around $730AUD, or over $2,000 for a family of three.
John Smailes, Chair of Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame said: “The event is very special, a free celebration of the world’s greatest automobile brands minus the condescension that often accompanies such occasions.
“Noosa Concours works so well in Hastings Street and wouldn’t translate so fittingly elsewhere, hence the two are made for each other,” he said.
A fellow classic car tragic, also from Sydney, Graham Joss, said there were so many cars to rave about, including the matched pair of McLarens.
“The super-rare Speedtail was the most beautiful car at the event and worth $4-$5million,” he said. “Ditto the F1, a definitive supercar of all time, worth a cool $20million-plus, if you can find one.”
Noosa Concours d’Elegance is masterminded by the Hastings Street Association with President Ben Orton saying it was more than just a car show.
“It is a celebration of community spirit and attracted more than 20,000 people,” he said. “Businesses along Hastings Street participated with special events, the unique beauty and spirit of the street was showcased, and the centre of attraction was Australia’s finest ensemble of classic and unique cars.
“A truly unforgettable experience.”
