Brisbane City Council pics

Mechanics stand behind a new roadster outside Waldock and Zerner's Garage, at the corner of Lamb and MacAlister Streets in Murgon. The garage was established in 1916. Automotive products are advertised around the garage.


 


Probably a Jeffery Quad ca. 1916. Note solid rubber tyres and acetylene headlights. 2.5 ton load capacity.Sheep and wool bales on a truck and trailer on Werna Station, Queensland, 1916


 
Dignitaries and guests observing car assembly at Queensland Motor Agency, Montague Rd, South Brisbane in 1927. Sir John Goodwin, Queensland Governor, is on the left. The occasion was probably the opening of the firm's first assembly line. Car chassis are being assembled by hand on a very simple production line, from components imported from Britain. Locally made bodies will then be fitted. The vehicles in the background are all of British origin.

 
 

John Macpherson Robertson, born in Victoria in 1859, was apprenticed to a confectionery company as a young man. He bought a controlling interest in Life Savers (Australasia) Ltd. in 1926. Robertson had a flair for product innovation, eye-catching packaging and skilful promotion reflecting the period when he worked in the United States of America.(Information taken from the Australian Dictionary of Biography online, 2006, retrieved 8 January 2007 from This truck was customised to look like a packet of Life Savers. 


 

MacRobertson Sponsored a pioneering cross-country expedition (as well as the great 1932 England to Australia Air Race).

While they were circling the country in their 7 ton Karrier 6-wheelers Michael Terry was cutting directly across the centre from Port Hedland to Melbourne in his little 3 ton Morris 6-wheelers. They met up early in their respective travels near Broome.

 

Here is MacRobertson the story.

  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_MacRobertson_Expedition_1928

 

Charles Hope, founder of the Monarch Engineering Works and Hope's Body Works, brought his brother Harold from Britain to help design a body for the new Morris car.


       

Fred Damm with Republic truck, solid tyres, loaded with cases of bananas at Gympie Railway Station. Ernie Batson standing.


 
Group of five men next to a car on the way to Southport, 1921

 
Belmont bus service vehicle at Gumdale, Brisbane

 

 

 


McIntosh Motors (Mr. Friend). Austin Panel Van (1941). (Description supplied with photograph.) Austin ca. 1939-1940. Ten horse power model. The chassis was made in England, with a local Australian made body, probably in Brisbane. Post war this vehicles continued to be made 1946-1948 inclusive. The load capacity was 8 cwt (hundredweight). There are no doors, which was normal for this type of vehicle in Australia. Austin and Morris merged in 1952 to form British Motor Corporation. McIntosh Motors was distributor for Austin in Brisbane. (KES and RGD, 27 October 1994)
 

Fighting Rust
Thank you for all these pictures. I know you have spent a lot of time finding, researching, and posting them.. This Yankee is still learning a lot about Australia after visiting your wonderful Down Under in 2015.

Ed Sims driving a 1905 Reo in the Brisbane to Brighton Veteran Car Run, 1958       
 

This vehicle is an International G series, probably G-50. The American chassis with a local Australian wooden body and local Australian wooden livestock semi-trailer had a load capacity of 10-12 tons. The prime mover was produced over 1934 to 1936. (RGD and KES, 22 September 1994)
 

Looks like the stock travelled better than the driver. Neatly built crate for the time.