Herbert began his lifelong passion at the age of 14, starting his trade as a coach builder. He has been practicing his art for 58 years now and has loved every day of it. 

“When I was growing up it was all I knew. It has always been something that has been there for me seven days a week and 24 hours a day, and it never lies to me,” he laughed. 

He names each of his vehicles and makes it all from scratch, hand crafting the wheels, hand sewing all the leatherwork, upholstery and, like any fine artist, hand painting each individual panel and features with the precision that can only be described as perfection. 

A year ago Herbert completed his first hurst from scratch, the 70 sections of scrollwork all painted freehand, without any line from a ruler. 

“This type is called a Landau Phaeton and is the only one of it’s kind in the country,” Herbert said, pointing at the hurst.

When you walk into Herbert’s workshop, there is a sense that you have been whipped up in a teleporter and sucked back into the 1800’s, a feeling of undistinguished history resonates through the shed. 

“I have a coach that belonged to the Maharaja Mysore [ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in India]. The Indian Government sold it in Brisbane. It is essentially an English convertible and the Maharaja rode it during 1890,” he explained.

Herbert pointed out his 1820 down coach, the oldest in his collection, one of the last four in existence. 

“I have done all the upholstery and insulated it, it feels like you’re sitting in an air conditioned room. Sometimes I sit inside to eat my sandwiches for lunch on the hot days. We can’t have brides who are using the coaches for their special day to step out looking like witches!” 

“Now this coach has done a lot of work,” Herbert opens the door of the 1862 coach from Holland. “It was owned by the German Kaiser Wilhelm [Germany's last Kaiser] and was his carriage up until the end of the war. This vehicle alone weighs 1200 kilos.”

Herbert uses his two mares, Katie and Sandy, both Shire Friesian Cross’ to pull the coaches, alternatively, he will use his two Gypsy Cob. 

Herbert is still recovering from a medical problem which has left him slightly immobile, but he said that it hasn’t stopped him from carrying on with his craft. 

“I can’t imagine ever letting go of this, I know I will never sell it,” he said, pointing to his heart then head, “it’s in here.”

“I have created them, so taking a photograph is nothing, I can’t look at a picture,” he said, looking at the rows of coaches, “this I will have always.”

One of the last hand-craft, horse drawn vehicle builders in Australia, Herbert’s workshop is situated at Crisp Galleries off the Hume Highway.