Holden Retirees Club

King William Street Plant, Adelaide

The new, galvanised iron factory of Fred. T. Hack, Ltd in King William Street was opened in December 1913. Reports of the day say that it was situated at 262 – 266 King William St. and had a frontage of 60 ft, with a depth of one Town Acre. It was located about 155 Feet from the corner of Gilles Street.

The owner, Fredrick Hack, had just returned from a lengthy jaunt around many overseas body manufacturers (paid for by the South Australian Government) and had purchased much modern machinery along the way. This was the building that Holden Motor Body Builders took over in September 1917, when H.J. Holden bought all the shares to the company.

The Federal Government’s Motor Body embargo of August, 1917, gave Australian manufacturers the opportunity to produce standardised motor bodies instead of obtaining from abroad, as had previously been done.

Given this fillip, from the outset Holden’s Motor Body Builders’ business exceeded expectations. The Adelaide Register reported on 27^th May, 1919:

“Appearances are deceitful. There is very much more behind the matter-of-fact frontage to the works than any one, not aware of the true state of the case, would dream of.  More land has been acquired and, to-day, instead of covering 1,400 square feet, the workshops spread over 43,560 feet. Even now one thing which strikes a visitor is that there is little spare room, and if the duplications of appliances are installed as is intended, then it seems to be evident that more space must be acquired.”

Indeed, by July 1919, additional facilities and improved organisation had become essential, and the Directors had already allocated capital to the expansion.

In September 1919, the company therefore purchased the remaining land at the corner of King William St and Gilles Streets and so now had a frontage of 130 feet to King William St and 90 feet in depth. This extended from the corner of Gilles Street to about half way along the King William Street frontage, towards Halifax Street.

Building commenced forthwith and demanded the removal of a number of cottages for the purpose. 

From the Adelaide Register, 23 December 1919:

“These (new) workshops cover an area of 11,910 square feet, and face King William and Gilles streets. When completed the total floor space occupied by the concern will be brought up to 122,000 square ft. The outside walls are being made exceptionally strong and wide, and the interior supporting columns are of reinforced concrete, and have the iron girders which support the flooring embedded in them. Everything in the building will be solid and substantial. Good light is assured in every floor, and the arrangements for ventilation are based on the latest American workshop principals. Safe and comfortable working conditions will obtain throughout, and the complete building will be a most desirable addition to the industrial premises of the State. Holden’s began with and have maintained a very high standard of motor body construction. “

But even this ‘Huge Expansion’ quickly proved to become cramped and again not large enough to accommodate the rapid growth of the Market and the company.

In 1922, the need for additional space and facilities at Adelaide was again urgent and of outstanding importance.

Additional land was purchased at the corner of Halifax Street and Symonds Place and incorporated into the King William Street operations. The galvanised iron shop of F. T. Hack quickly gave way to extensive modem buildings and the introduction of modern machines and methods.

The company decided to erect a modern, four-storied motor body plant on the site of the present offices, paint shop and repair shop, with a frontage to King William St. The plan was that body assembly commenced on the top floor, and by using open drops in the floors, was progressed down to the ground floor to come out as a finished body. 

In March 1922, the Courier reported; “Plans have been prepared for several big buildings (in Adelaide). Included among these are extensive additions to the premises of Holden's Motor Body Builders, King William-street south.  Additions are to be made to the Gilles street frontage, and also at the corner of Halifax Street and Symonds place. There will be 10,000 square feet of space in the latter and 9,000 square feet in the former extension. This firm's premises now extend over a two-acre frontage to King William Street from Halifax to Gilles streets, with the exception of a small area on which two or three houses stand. Between 20 and 30 Cottages have been demolished to make way for extensions, and the building is now the largest motor body building establishment in the Southern Hemisphere, and the second largest in the world.”

It also apparently subsumed Antrim Place, which ran off on the north side of 262 King William St near the end of the Hack building.

[Note that the streets of Adelaide were renumbered in 1920/21 so the King William street numbers changed]

To provide a new office block and Head Office area, an additional building at 368 (was 248) King William Street, a Boarding house known as "The Levens”, was also purchased.

 ---ooo---

Given that the bulk of the bodies were wooden, Wood Mill capacity was an ongoing problem, made worse by the needs of building railway carriages. To relieve the immediate space situation, on 2nd May 1923 the Board purchased a building nearby from T Dawson & Sons Ltd on the corner of Gilbert Street  and Vinrace Road (adjacent to West Terrace) , into which it moved all its railway and like operations. They stayed there until 1925 when operations were transferred to Woodville which enabled the wood mill bottleneck, to be relieved.

[The Gilbert St building was then leased to Whittingslow Engineering until a disasterous fire razed the building on 16th November, 1925.  HMBB finally sold the site to the South Australian Gas Company on 2nd October, 1926.]

By the middle of 1923 it was possible to announce that:

- Over the past 12 months some 6621 bodies had been produced.

- 750 men were now employed in the King William Street Works and were on extensive overtime and shift work.

- A new contract for railway coaches had been secured from the South Australian Railways.

- A contract for the four-storied building had been let and it was advancing rapidly.

- The wood mill expansion now provided a manufacturing unit unparalleled anywhere in Australia and was in full production.

- Turnover for the year ending June 30, 1922, was 360,000, and everything pointed to £500,000 for the current year.

- Contractors had commenced upon a new building on the Gillis Street frontage.

Progress was such that it was reported that in January 1923, “A pleasing little ceremony which speaks well for the biggest Australian motor body building firm, took place at noon on Tuesday, when Mr. H. J. Holden (chairman of directors of Holden's Motor Body Builders) opened the Dining Room attached to the new offices in King William Street south. He referred to the good comradeship existing between the members of the firm and the employees and expressed the hope that those present would make full use of the privileges afforded.

Mr. Allen (Plant Manager) remarked that hearty thanks were due to the directors for their thoughtfulness. The Dining Room, which is intended for the use of the foremen and heads of departments, is about 30 ft. by 25 ft., and is furnished in oak. Hot and cold lunches are provided by the firm free of charge, and the latest motor trade magazines are available for the perusal of the staff.

The kitchen attached, under the supervision of a cook and assistant, is replete with every convenience, and ice chests are provided for cool drinks.”

The new factory building opened about April, 1923. Apart from the obvious advantages of an expanded workshop and new equipment, the Plant was notable for the Social Welfare care introduced, well ahead of its time in general industry.

A Medical centre was established to treat both employees and their families, including dental work.  Centres were setup to give advice to employees on virtually any issue, be it legal, financial, or other.  Sporting Clubs were started, with Adelaide City Council making available 18 acres of playing fields for the Cricket and Football clubs, and a bowling green.  The State Saving bank opened a branch on the site.

Females were catered for with separate Dining and Retiring rooms available, plus a full time nurse on hand to care for any small problems.

Socially, a band was organised, a male voice party, and an orchestra. These could be enjoyed during Lunch breaks or after hours at evening concerts.

In April 1923, Holden purchased three building lots in Port Noalunga and erected cottages for the use of employees on holiday.

There was even a Shop Council, consisting of the Foreman and a member chosen by the employees from each section plus representatives of the employers. No reasonable request was refused, and much good will was generated between the Owners and the employees.

---ooo---

However, even as the new extended factory opened, it was becoming obvious that the current site would again become restrictive at the forecast rate of growth of production, and while they built up the new Plant, the Board felt that they needed a whole new site where they could continue to expand and create a manufacturing centre with all required operations under one roof. 

So a 5 acre site at Woodville in South Australia was purchased in April 1923, plus an adjoining 22 acres from the David Bower Estate, and progressively established to take over motor body production. As most of the production was shipped interstate by rail or ship, Woodville was chosen for its position adjacent to major road and rail corridors, approximately half way between the City of Adelaide and the Port of Adelaide. The site was later increased to 40 acres by purchase of adjoining land.

By October, Woodville production had reached 191 bodies per week, King William Street plant 351, or a total of 542. In addition to this, the latter was engaged on a large order for motor bus bodies for the South Australian Municipal Tramways Trust. A little later this was supplemented by a substantial order for tramcars from the Melbourne and .Metropolitan Tramways Board.

1924 was a year of great achievement, with the production of 22,060 bodies, though Woodville was still expanding, office space and accounting facilities being now completely inadequate. In addition, a new and separate Wood Mill on behalf of King William Street requirements was to be erected at Woodville. Paralleling this, the Halifax Street workshops were to be rebuilt as a two-storied building.

---ooo---

When Holden's Motor Body Builders purchased its first land at Woodville, it had in mind ultimately vacating the King William Street area and creating a self-contained industrial zone. The agreement with General Motors Export Co. had radically altered such plans and delayed them.

Now, the matter was again up for review.

So successful had been the present reorganisation and integration at Woodville, that the next and final stage seemed timely. It was decided to conclude the transfer by the end of the year, if at all possible.

Mr E.W. Holden announced in August 1926 that the machinery at King William Street would be dismantled and progressively moved and reinstalled at the Woodville Plant, It would be done gradually to prevent any disruption to production.  Many office staff had already been relocated. Portion of the city factory would be retained for use as a city depot.

“Mr. E.W. Holden (managing director) stated that by concentrating activities at Woodville a saving in transportation costs would be affected with a consequent cheaper cost of production. Extensive additions have been made to the Woodville works, which now occupied an area of 224,000 square feet. Estimated production for the current year was 25 per cent higher than last.

Up to date machinery had been purchased abroad, and to conform to the firm's policy of keeping abreast of the times, two foremen were now in America to gain the latest ideas in body building.  Quality first was the maxim of the management.”

In the event, it took twelve months to complete the transfer.

As volume slowly shifted to Woodville, advertisements started to appear through 1926 and 1927 announcing a repair service at King William Street, boasting the availability of re-enamelling, Duco repaints, upholstery and hood repairs and hood replacements.

In 1927, because of the capacity now available, it was found possible to close down the plants over the Christmas and New Year holidays, and to concentrate upon completing the transfer of King William Street facilities to Woodville - a task of considerable dimensions. By the end of December, and excepting the timber mill, the transfer was concluded and the doors of the King William Street plant closed for the last time. By the end of January 1928, all operations would be carried out at Woodville.

A notice was published that “on and after the 9^th January, 1928, the Registered Office of Holden’s Motor Body Builders will be situated at Woodville, South Australia, instead of King William Street, Adelaide.”

The whole City factory complex was now to be offered for sale. However, it was announced on 12th October 1928 that the Myer Emporium had purchased the whole of the main King William Street premises for use as a factories, garage and despatch departments. The unconfirmed sale price was believed to be around £30,000.

At the same time, “The Levens” property, which had been used as the HMBB office block, was sold to Muirden College, then a business college, today a commercial Secondary school still at the same location.

In November, HMBB tendered to build aircraft frames for the Federal Government, which, had they have been successful, would have been manufactured in the Gilles St property.

A Preliminary Sale notice appeared on 17 November, advising of a sale at a later date in the following terms:

“The whole of the King William St frontage having now been sold — the-big 4 story factory to The Myer Emporium and the office block to Muirden College — the balance of the extensive premises immediately adjoining are to be cleared at auction subject to genuinely low upset prices (which will be published later) on exceedingly easy terms — 25 per cent deposit, the balance In 5 years at 6 per cent. There are 7 lots, 3 facing Halifax Street, 3 Gilles Street, and one Symond’s Place; 6 are covered by Modern Industrial Premises

some of brick, others part brick and part galv. iron, ranging from one to three stories, all having excellent natural lighting and ventilation and convenience of access. On the seventh is the caretaker's cottage. Full details will be published later, and in the meantime further particulars may be obtained, from the joint auctioneers.”

Notwithstanding this, there was a further announcement on 17th December that the Directors had sold their Halifax Street property to C. W. Robinson and Co, consisting of 157 feet frontage by 213 feet depth along Symonds Place.

The balance of the properties were Auctioned on 21^st February 1929. However, although no record of the sale results can be found, the properties seem to be the similar to those later offered at Auction in 1938 suggesting that they were passed in.

Myer occupied the King William Street building until 1958, when it was taken over by A.G. Healing Ltd. and then passed to Repco in 1970.

The large two storied building in Gilles St was acquired by Charles Berk and Co, Oil merchants from 1940 to 1963, and was then passed to David Jones (Adelaide) for use as a store.

In Holden’s Motor Body Builders’ report to Shareholders as at 30^th June, 1929, it was said:

“The action of the directors in combining the two manufacturing plants at the end of 1927 by transferring the machinery of the King William street works to Woodville has proved beneficial. The greater part of the city premises has now been disposed of, and although a loss was made, a great deal of it was covered by depreciation reserves built up in the past for such a contingency.  The disposal of the city property has also resulted in a considerable saving annually in rates and taxes.”

References:

Photographs: