Your guide to Heritage Plates

Blog - 9 May 2024

A glimpse into our motoring past

Heritage plates are the most distinctive number plates on Australian roads. The white on black enamel plates are not only iconic, but a part of Victorian motoring history. 

Heritage plates are faithful replicas of the first general issue number plates issued in Victoria in the 1930s. Following a boom in vehicle sales in the early 20th century, the Motor Registration Branch began manufacturing plates for registration numbers which they allocated to vehicles sequentially starting at Number 2.  
 
Fast forward to the mid 1980s and VicRoads began releasing faithful replicas of the historic plates at auctions, with the first putting some of the most sought-after combinations under the hammer. This was called the Historical Series and was the first time 1 was offered for sale, fetching $165,000. The profits from this sale went directly to supporting road safety initiatives.  

In 2007, these historic Plates became what we know them as today, Heritage Plates. At the time, a three-digit Heritage plate sold at auction for an average of $68,000 and a four-digit plate sold at auction for an average for of $28,857. 

Six-digit plates first became available for purchase online directly from VicRoads in 2009 for $10,000.

Heritage Plates today

The exact production method of Heritage plates is a closely guarded secret, continuing to be carefully crafted like the original general issue plates manufactured in the 1930s. The production process is protected by our skilled craftspeople, however, we do know that each character is manually embossed into a heavy gauge steel plate which is etched and coated with rich black and white vitreous enamel. The plate is then oven-baked to create a high gloss and durable finish. 

Because Heritage plates are handcrafted, each plate differs slightly, contributing to their unique nature. 

When you purchase a VicRoads Heritage plate, the plate is presented in a crafted wooden box, along with a certificate of authenticity.  
 

Owning a rare icon

 Only a small percentage of Victorian drivers will own a Heritage plate. As faithful replicas of the first Victorian registration plates produced in the 1930s, they remain true to the original number series and only 285,000 can ever be issued. If you’re lucky enough to own one, you not only purchase the plate, but you own the rights to display the combination for life. Three, four, five-digit Heritage Plates are available through public auction. Held throughout the year, each auction presents a small batch of Heritage plates for bidding through our auction partners. 

To receive exclusive updates about Victorian Heritage plates and news of upcoming auctions, sign up to our mailing list.