[David_Hayward (RIP)]

These are the plants:

WOODVILLE BODY PLANT


BRISBANE [“B”]
Brisbane branch, located in Wickham Street Newstead, was officially opened on January 15, 1927.

The plant had an extensive lease and was located within easy access to the G.P.O. [GENERAL POST OFFICE?] and to Bulimba Beach, where excellent wharfing facilities were available.
The building, formerly occupied by a Ford Service Station, was originally a single story, but with extensive reconstruction; a second story was added to provide a floor area 109,000 sq. ft. The architects in charge of the work were Messrs. Hall and Prentice, of Brisbane.

SYDNEY [“S”]

The Sydney plant was situated in Meeks Street, Marrickville. It had a frontage of 400 ft. and an overall depth of 290 ft. Part of the building was of two-storied brick construction. A railway switch from the main interstate line ran the whole length inside the warehouse and outside was a loading. dock 25 ft. wide by 290 ft., with an additional siding for loading finished cars. The total floor area was 98,000 sq. ft., 90,000 sq. ft. being for factory purposes and the remainder for offices. Architects were Messrs. Ross and Rowe and the builder was Messrs. Robert Wall and Sons Limited, The plant had a capacity of 60 cars per day, and employed approximately 175. Marrickville was sold in 1939, 25 acres of land having been acquired at Pagewood, N.S.W. for a new assembly plant that opened in 1939 with 308,044 sq. ft. of assembly plant, paint shop, office and cafeteria buildings

MELBOURNE [“M”]
G.M.A leased a building from Messrs. John Sharp and Sons limited on the corner of City Road and Balston Street. A central office and spares warehouse as well as the assembly operation were established. The building had a frontage of 429 ft. and a depth of 3,351 ft. The front portion, extending back 62 ft. was a two story brick building housing the Melbourne branch and the Central Organisation staff.
The premises were within walking distance of the G.P.O. and Railway with the wharfs nearby. The total floor area was 198,000 sq. ft., of which 26,508 sq. ft. was for warehouse operations. The area devoted to production was 83,472 sq. ft. The former occupant carried out the major portion of the structural alterations and additions. The plant had a capacity of 60 cars per day and employed 175.
It was quickly realised that the area was totally inadequate for the task and 50 acres Crown Land was purchased at Fishermen's Bend, the purchase being made possible through a special Act of Parliament.The new factory and company Headquarters at Fishermen’s Bend, two miles from Melbourne, replaced the old City Road, South Melbourne, building. The first sod was turned by the then Victorian Premier, in February 1936 and the official opening ceremony was conducted in a little over six months later by the P.M., the Hon. Joseph Lyons.

ADELAIDE [“A”]
The South Australian plant was erected. at the corner of Birkenhead Road and Rann Street, Birkenhead, adjacent to the Port River and with easy access to the Port Adelaide G.P.O. and railway. The building was two-story, with a frontage of 215ft. 114,000 sq. ft. of the ground floor area of which 61,272 sq. ft. was allotted to warehousing space and 47,272 sq. ft. to assembly operations.
The architects were Messrs. David Williams and Son, of Port Adelaide and Emmett and Sons Limited, of Forestville, the contractors. Negotiations for the 10 year lease of the site with the S.A. Harbour Trust were finalised on June 1 1926, the contract for building operations was signed and foundation work started on June 2nd. The building works completed by October 1926. The plant had a capacity of 35 cars per day and employed 100.

PERTH [“P”]
The plant was located on Buckland Avenue, facing the Perth-Fremantle road on the corner of Victoria Street at Cottelsoe Beach. The building was a two-story, with a frontage of 170 ft., and was 21 miles from Fremantle wharves and 9 miles from Perth G.P.O. The total ground floor area of the building was 44,622 sq. ft., of which 9990 sq. ft. was devoted to warehousing operations and 34,632 sq. ft. to assembly operations. The architects were Messrs. A. E. and A. B. Cox, of Perth and the builders, Messrs. A.T. Brine and Sons, also of Perth. The site was purchased on June 11th 1926, the contract let on June 18th, and ground broken on June 21st.