Just splitting off from another thread this subject seems to have garnered some good responses.
David Mottram commented on one of the more famous yards in Melbourne which largely disappeared in the 1980s as land values (and taxes) increased to the point where they were uneconomical to operate as storage for trucks and parts returning only a small income. Here's my response to David's excellent summary of the structure of Vic Drew Used Trucks
Spot on David.
Val was a heavy smoker and was always highly made up and well dressed which looked very incongruous in that setting. She'd encourage me to stay if it was lunch time or for a coffee while waiting for Bill to come back from one of the yards. I well remember how unpopular Les was. He'd sometimes store electronics from Sanyo there - just how he came by them remains a bit of a mystery.
Quote:
Originally Posted by motto
Vic Drew was the proprietor of Vic Drew Used Trucks. He had three children that inherited the business when he passed away, they were Bill and Les and their sister Val.
Bill knew no other life except the business of buying and selling parts for trucks belonging to bygone times and his knowledge was (is) quite extensive. He has an alert manner and is happy to share his knowledge and memories. He still runs an offshoot of the business in an old shop across the road from the original yard in Mt Alexander Road, Ascot Vale.
Val died many years ago, she worked in the business until overcome by ill health.
Les wanted nothing to do with the business except to get his hands on his cut. He and Bill were always at war and it took years to liquidate the property held by the estate.
One of the yards was Rosamond Road, Maribyrnong where Highpoint West shopping centre now stands. A very large quantity of ex government trucks and parts was accumulated there behind a corrugated iron front fence but no side fence and no security. Kids got in and smashed what they could. I remember sets of Harley Davidson engine bearings scattered on the ground and NOS CCKW open cab windscreens pulled out of the crate and broken. All very sad.
David
|