The club was formed following a display of motorcycles manufactured from 1905 to 1929 at Heddon Greta Speedway.

So it only seemed fitting to have another public display, 100 years of Motorcycles, of veteran and vintage motorcycles from members' private collections to mark the club's milestone.

Museum manager Julie Baird said that for some people their motorcycles were pieces of history; for others they were how they travel to work.

"The Newcastle Vintage Motorcycle Club and other similar clubs exist so members can legally use public roads to ride older motorbikes," she said.

"For many of the owners, their bikes are labours of love that have been painstakingly maintained and restored over the years to keep them roadworthy.

"There will be some really old and wonderful bikes on display."

A vintage motorcycle is 30 or more years old and a veteran motorcycle was made up to 1918.

The oldest motorcycle on display is a 500cc B.S.A, made in 1912 in the United Kingdom, while the only Australian model in the exhibition is a 147cc Waratah built in 1923.

■ 100 years of Motorcycles, an exhibition by Newcastle Vintage Motorcycle Club, Newcastle Museum, until May 4. Entry is free.