 | |
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1945 |
| Defunct | 1965 |
| Fate | Merged with Chrysler Australia |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Australia |
| Products | Automobiles |
| Brands | |
| Parent | Rootes Group |
Rootes Australia was the Australian affiliate of the Rootes Group, a British motor vehicle manufacturing company. [1]
Contents
The company was formed immediately after the Second World War [1] initially operating as an importing and distribution firm. [2] In 1946, it began assembling Hillman Minx vehicles at Port Melbourne, Victoria. [3] This was the first instance of a British motor manufacturer establishing a production line in Australia. [4] [5] 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. [1] 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. [1]
Hillman, Humber and Singer models were assembled successfully for a number of years. The company also produced models which were hybrids of the three makes. [2] By the mid-1960s, falling sales and an ageing model line-up meant the Rootes Group was in trouble both in Britain and Australia. [7]
In December 1965, Rootes Australia was merged with Chrysler Australia. [1] Assembly operations were continued at the Port Melbourne facility [8] and Hillman cars, Humber cars and Commer trucks were now sold by Chrysler dealers. [8] Chrysler was quick to phase out the Humber brand, [9] however assembly of the Hillman Arrow and Hunter range was commenced in early 1967. [9] Chrysler Australia also utilised Port Melbourne for assembly of the Dodge Phoenix from 1968 and Mitsubishi's Galant from 1971. [9] The last Hillman Hunter was produced in November 1972, [10] and, with Dodge Phoenix and Galant assembly transferred to Tonsley Park in South Australia at the end of 1972, the Port Melbourne facility was closed. [10]
