Kyneton auctioneer Martin Evans has a long history of living and working in Kyneton and said there’s “probably nothing” he hasn’t sold in town. Oscar Parry talks to Martin about his connection to Kyneton and some of the memorable items he has auctioned.
What is your connection to Kyneton?
I’ve been there 40 years, my children [were all] born there and went to school there … I was 20 when I [moved here]. I’m 65 now. I’ve had lots of businesses in the town – the local taxi service, I’ve had milk bars, service stations, chicken shops … and supported just about everything in the town. I’m one of the longest-serving supporters of the Kyneton Daffodil Festival.
What do you like most about Kyneton?
It’s a lovely township – it still has the country feel. I still believe it’s full of honest and reputable people. It’s just a friendly community place.
What, if anything, would you change about Kyneton?
I think it probably needs to be more children-friendly, as in building more stuff for the younger folk … there’s not a lot for kids to do there. I don’t really know what that is, whether it be skateparks, cinemas – it doesn’t have a lot of stuff for younger people. It’s got a good railway network, it’s got a good bus service, but with the surrounding areas expanding into town, I think it just needs more for young people.
What are some of the interesting items that you have auctioned in Kyneton?
One of the interesting things I have sold was in the actual town itself, the gentleman was an early wartime soldier – I sold his wooden leg. I’ve sold lots of military and old [items] … a lot of old machinery. In Kyneton, there’s probably nothing I haven’t sold … I’ve been doing it for a long time.
How did you get started with auctioning?
I started working for [Kyneton auctioneer] Brian Murphy selling hot dogs, that’s how I started! And then I took over his business. He’d been in the town a long, long time – he had probably been there twenty years before me.
