"My father told me he bought the steam lorry for £1499 from William Adams of William Street in Sydney in 1927 to use in his carrier business," Alan recalled.

The Super-Sentinel was designed by Arthur Thomson, a young Glaswegian.

At age 25, he was responsible for its design and and modifying the layout of the factory in Shrewsbury, England, which was to manufacture them. The vehicles went on sale in 1923.

It is not known how Grubb's Super-Sentinel made its way to Sydney where he purchased it. Horses and bullocks pulled loads of wool and other produce around the Yass district.

The arrival of Grubb's steam lorry must have made an amazing sight.

The vehicle resembled a small steam engine with black smoke billowing above the cabin. It ran on a steam boiler fuelled by coking coal.

After the shearing season, it could be seen carrying bales of wool like those shown in the photo from Euralie to the rail head. On October 11, 1934 the Yass Courier- Tribune reported that Grubb's steam lorry brought 47 bales of wool from Cavan to the rail head - something of a record it seemed at that time.

On November 6, 1933, the Yass Tribune-Courier reported that Mr Grubb had been engaged to transport a large load of timber, including several poles 35 feet long and 5000 feet of decking timber.

He took the timber from the town rail yard to Pearces Bridge past Cooma Cottage on Yass Valley Way, where Main Roads Department was repairing the bridge.

A more unusual use was made of the steam lorry following heavy snowfalls in Yass. The Yass Tribune-Courier reported on August 28, 1929 that Mr Grubb and his lorry were seen in Comur Street, having been engaged by the council. The lorry was filled with snow, then returned for additional loads.

But perhaps one of Bert's most unusual loads was 75 boys taking part in an Easter weekend for Young Australia League at Burrunjuck in April 1930.

September 26, 1935, the Yass Tribune-Courier reported that Mr Grubb had decided to add a petrol driven lorry to his business and went to Sydney to buy the best available.

He decided on the white Indiana model truck, purchased through Sample and Thompson in Yass.

Its understand that the Super-Sentinel ended its days parked behind the stables at Newbury, the Grubb's home, and fell into increasing disrepair. The steam era ended to be overtaken by petrol driven vehicles.