Rootes Australia
Encyclopedia
Rootes Australia was the Australian affiliate of the Rootes Group, a British motor vehicle manufacturing company.
The company was formed immediately after the Second World War initially operating as an importing and distribution firm. It began assembling Hillman Minx
vehicles at Port Melbourne in Victoria
in 1946. This was the first instance of a British motor manufacturer establishing a production line in Australia. By 1954 the company had gained a 5.4% share of the local market and subsequently announced plans to create a full local manufacturing facility. A 35 hectare site was acquired for this purpose at Harrisfield (now known as Noble Park
), near Dandenong in Victoria however the proposed plant was never built.
Hillman, Humber
and Singer
models were assembled successfully for a number of years with the company also producing models which were hybrids of the three makes. However by the mid 1960s falling sales and an ageing model line-up meant the Rootes Group was in trouble both in Britain and Australia . In December 1965 Rootes Australia was merged with Chrysler Australia
and assembly was gradually moved from Port Melbourne to the latter’s existing facilities in Adelaide
, South Australia
. Chrysler was quick to phase out the Humber brand however new Hillman Arrow and Hunter
models were introduced. Chrysler Australia ceased production of Hillmans in 1973.
Significant models produced by Rootes Australia included the following:
The company was formed immediately after the Second World War initially operating as an importing and distribution firm. It began assembling Hillman Minx
Hillman Minx
The Hillman Minx was a series of middle-sized family cars produced under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group between 1932 and 1970...
vehicles at Port Melbourne in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in 1946. This was the first instance of a British motor manufacturer establishing a production line in Australia. By 1954 the company had gained a 5.4% share of the local market and subsequently announced plans to create a full local manufacturing facility. A 35 hectare site was acquired for this purpose at Harrisfield (now known as Noble Park
Noble Park, Victoria
Noble Park is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 26 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Greater Dandenong...
), near Dandenong in Victoria however the proposed plant was never built.
Hillman, Humber
Humber (car)
Humber is a dormant British automobile marque which could date its beginnings to Thomas Humber's bicycle company founded in 1868. Following their involvement in Humber through Hillman in 1928 the Rootes brothers acquired a controlling interest and joined the Humber board in 1932 making Humber part...
and Singer
Singer (car)
Singer was an automobile company founded in 1905 in Coventry, England. It was acquired by the Rootes Group of the United Kingdom in 1956, who continued the brand until 1970...
models were assembled successfully for a number of years with the company also producing models which were hybrids of the three makes. However by the mid 1960s falling sales and an ageing model line-up meant the Rootes Group was in trouble both in Britain and Australia . In December 1965 Rootes Australia was merged with Chrysler Australia
Chrysler Australia
Chrysler Australia is the importer of Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles for sale in the Australian marketplace. However, there had previously been a "Chrysler Australia Ltd" which had operated as a vehicle manufacturer in Australia from 1951 until 1980....
and assembly was gradually moved from Port Melbourne to the latter’s existing facilities in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. Chrysler was quick to phase out the Humber brand however new Hillman Arrow and Hunter
Hillman Hunter
Rootes Arrow was the manufacturer's name for a range of cars produced under several badge-engineered marques by the Rootes Group from 1966 to 1979. It is amongst the last Rootes designs, developed with no influence from future owner Chrysler...
models were introduced. Chrysler Australia ceased production of Hillmans in 1973.
Significant models produced by Rootes Australia included the following:
- Hillman MinxHillman MinxThe Hillman Minx was a series of middle-sized family cars produced under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group between 1932 and 1970...
- assembled from 1946. - Humber Super SnipeHumber Super SnipeThe Humber Super Snipe was a car produced by the British-based Humber car company, part of the Rootes Group, from 1938 to 1967.-Pre-war Super Snipe:...
- assembled from 1953. - Humber HawkHumber HawkThe Humber Hawk was a large four-cylinder saloon produced by the British-based Humber car company, part of the Rootes Group.-Humber Hawk Mk I & II:...
– assembled to 1964 - Singer GazelleSinger GazelleThe Singer Gazelle name has been applied to two generations of motor cars from the British manufacturer the Rootes Group, using the Singer marque...
- assembled from 1957 to 1961 - Hillman Super MinxHillman Super MinxThe Hillman Super Minx was a motor car from the British Rootes Group. It was a slightly larger version of the Hillman Minx, from the period when the long-running Minx nameplate was applied to the "Audax" series of designs...
- Humber VogueHillman Super MinxThe Hillman Super Minx was a motor car from the British Rootes Group. It was a slightly larger version of the Hillman Minx, from the period when the long-running Minx nameplate was applied to the "Audax" series of designs...
- assembled from 1962 to 1965. - Hillman ImpHillman ImpThe Hillman Imp is a compact, rear-engined saloon car that was manufactured under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group from 1963 to 1976...
- from 1964
External links
- http://www.sa.hillman.org.au/BV_ADLbrochure01a.htm Hillman Minx Series IIIC Special (1962)sales brochure - Retrieved on 21/6/08
- http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/tazydevilbear/hmhumbervogue.html&date=2009-10-25+22:39:25 Humber Vogue Mk2 image - Retrieved on 21/6/2008
- http://www.sa.hillman.org.au/RootesFactory.htm Rootes Australia Factory - Retrieved on 22/6/08
- http://www.sunbeam.org.au