On a property hidden in bushland on the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, there are old cars, tractors, motorbikes, trucks and sulkies from a bygone era that once belonged to an Australian politician and obsessive collector.

Key points: The late Labor MP Gordon 'Mick' Ibbett was an avid collector of cars, trucks, motorbikes and tractors

The late Labor MP Gordon 'Mick' Ibbett was an avid collector of cars, trucks, motorbikes and tractors The last of his collection is being auctioned on his Southern Highlands property

The last of his collection is being auctioned on his Southern Highlands property Mick's son says his father took up collecting after living through the Great Depression

It is a trash and treasure trove hidden on the 5-hectare property near Balmoral Village, and the last remains of a mind-boggling collection accumulated over the life of Labor MP Gordon 'Mick' Ibbett.

Mr Ibbett died in 2008, and at one point had 300 old cars on his property.

Now his sons are selling the property, and with it, a collection of virtually anything on wheels.

"I think [collecting] was part of living through the depression," Mick's son Gordon Ibbett said.

"He never bought anything new — everything was always second-hand and he ended up with truckloads of it.

"He'd buy one thing and end up with 10. For example, a Volkswagen would blow-up a motor and he'd buy another one for the motor and it would be left in the paddock and it snowballed."

Some of the old cars being sold as part of the collection's auction. ( ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale )

A line of rusty Volkswagen Beetles makes up just some of the old cars on the property that include Morris Minors, Holden HR and EH models, 1950s Rovers, and an REO Speedwagon truck from 1946.

"There's stuff we had when we were kids and we haven't seen in 50 years," Gordon said.

"It's a bit heartbreaking [selling] some things, but other things you think, 'there's too many and too much' — so you have to move a bit on."

Mr Ibbett's name and address is still printed on the side of an old truck. ( ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale )

Raised in a mechanic's playground

Mick Ibbett not only had a drive to accumulate machinery, he also had a large property with sheds and space to store it on.

This meant the four Ibbett brothers grew up in a mechanic's playground.

Old Volkswagen Beetles being auctioned from the collection. ( ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale )

"It rubbed off on all of us brothers and we've all collected different things and been collectors over the years," Mick's son Rob said.

"It was a wonderful pastime and I suppose there's that fine line between collecting and hoarding.

"We felt a lot of the stuff our parents had was rubbish, but now we're finding out with the internet there's a fair bit of interest in this old stuff."

The brothers are expecting at least 500 people to attend next weekend's auction, with some potential buyers coming from Perth.

"There's a lot of good stuff to a lot of people," said owner of The Garage Collectables Auctions, Scott Van Eyk.

"A lot of people will think it's just junk, but there's a lot of collectable cars and car parts and things people are looking for.

"It amazes me what goes for cheap and what goes crazy — it just depends on the day and who wants it."

A line of old Rover 90s from the 1950s. ( ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale )

Collecting in the blood for Ibbett family

A short drive from the family property is Gordon's home and, while he may have spent weeks preparing to sell his father's old collection, he has a growing list of items at his own home.

His father's philosophy of only buying second-hand has been passed down.

Gordon Ibbett, son of Gordon 'Mick' Ibbett, has been clearing out his father's property. ( ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale )

"I've got eight or nine cars and six or eight motorbikes and some old furniture," he said.

"I've never bought anything new really, just an old chainsaw I bought new.

"But they don't make things as well as they used to and [old] stuff just lasts."