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After the formation of the International Harvester Company of America in 1902 a branch operation was set up
in Australia until 1912 when the International Harvester Company of Australia was formed.
Gradually the company became associated with the local manufacture of machine attachments, service
parts and the distribution of an extensive range of Australian made equipment, in addition to importing
major units.
In 1937 the first big step was taken to establish comprehensive manufacturing facilities in Australia. The
land on which the factory was built was purchased on Corio Bay, North Shore, Geelong, Victoria.
After a few months of implement operation the company, due to war, turned its operations to making and
assembling military items. During this period, motor trucks, gas masks, torpedo bombers, service rifles,
howitzers, bren guns and machine gun carriers were manufactured.
After the war, ‘the Company realised that Australia was on the brink of an era of gigantic development, that
here was a country with a vast manufacturing potential, its resources hardly tapped’.
in Australia until 1912 when the International Harvester Company of Australia was formed.
Gradually the company became associated with the local manufacture of machine attachments, service
parts and the distribution of an extensive range of Australian made equipment, in addition to importing
major units.
In 1937 the first big step was taken to establish comprehensive manufacturing facilities in Australia. The
land on which the factory was built was purchased on Corio Bay, North Shore, Geelong, Victoria.
After a few months of implement operation the company, due to war, turned its operations to making and
assembling military items. During this period, motor trucks, gas masks, torpedo bombers, service rifles,
howitzers, bren guns and machine gun carriers were manufactured.
After the war, ‘the Company realised that Australia was on the brink of an era of gigantic development, that
here was a country with a vast manufacturing potential, its resources hardly tapped’.
TRUCK DEVELOPMENTS
announced that the company had
purchased land at the junction of the
Princes and South Gippsland
being erected at Dandenong, the first
International Motor Trucks were
assembled on a temporary assembly line in a temporary manufacturing plant at the Company’s Australian
headquarters in South Melbourne.
This new Australian made Motor Truck quickly gained acceptance throughout Australia’s road transport
industry. The Dandenong Works was opened in 1952.
Due to the trucks popularity, expansion to the works became necessary in 1955. Additional buildings and
equipment were added , the most noteworthy part of the expansion programme being the motor truck cab
plant where sheet metal is transformed into motor truck cabins by modern day assembly line methods.
The new facilities also incorporated new machines tools and fixtures, permitting almost twice the previous
output.
announced that the company had
purchased land at the junction of the
Princes and South Gippsland
being erected at Dandenong, the first
International Motor Trucks were
assembled on a temporary assembly line in a temporary manufacturing plant at the Company’s Australian
headquarters in South Melbourne.
This new Australian made Motor Truck quickly gained acceptance throughout Australia’s road transport
industry. The Dandenong Works was opened in 1952.
Due to the trucks popularity, expansion to the works became necessary in 1955. Additional buildings and
equipment were added , the most noteworthy part of the expansion programme being the motor truck cab
plant where sheet metal is transformed into motor truck cabins by modern day assembly line methods.
The new facilities also incorporated new machines tools and fixtures, permitting almost twice the previous
output.
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT
During the 1950’s International Harvester made great strides in the construction equipment field and
developed giant earth moving tractors, scrapers, off-highway motor trucks and various machines required
for the development of the land throughout Australasia.
In 1955 the company expanded its earthmoving and construction equipment manufacturing facilities in
Australia to build bulldozers, bull graders and components for allied equipment.
By July 1958 the company had purchased the manufacturing facilities of an engineering company at Port
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, to further expand the manufacture in Australia of its line of construction and
earthmoving equipment. International Harvester then transferred production of major earth moving
equipment built in Geelong to this venue also adding new machines to its range.
During the 1950’s International Harvester made great strides in the construction equipment field and
developed giant earth moving tractors, scrapers, off-highway motor trucks and various machines required
for the development of the land throughout Australasia.
In 1955 the company expanded its earthmoving and construction equipment manufacturing facilities in
Australia to build bulldozers, bull graders and components for allied equipment.
By July 1958 the company had purchased the manufacturing facilities of an engineering company at Port
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, to further expand the manufacture in Australia of its line of construction and
earthmoving equipment. International Harvester then transferred production of major earth moving
equipment built in Geelong to this venue also adding new machines to its range.
Testing of the farm machines was actually done in the fields of many Australian States and to ensure local
conditions were taken into account. By the conclusion of the War, International Harvester engineering
group, in addition to adapting imported machinery for local use had entirely designed a wide range of
machines for use in South East Asia. “Some of the most notable achievements of the group included the
design of a local header harvester (a machine unique to Australia and New Zealand harvesting methods),
scarifier and cultivating drill.
The strength of the engineering plant was enlarged by the addition of a motor truck testing staff. The motor
truck engines were tested at Geelong, with other components of the trucks tested in the actual operating
conditions on the road. Later, the motor truck engineering staff moved to Dandenong.
The main work of the early motor truck testing staff was confined to merely adapting imported trucks to local
conditions. Early in the 1950’s the motor truck group joined forces with the Australian Government for the
development of a vehicle for use by the Australian Army. This was the first truck completely designed in
Australia.
The design concept of this army truck was used to design the first commercial truck to be completely
designed and manufactured in Australia. This was known as the ACCO series.
The engineering staff was further enhanced by the establishment of another engineering group
concentrating on the Construction equipment line. When the company purchased its Port Melbourne
Works in 1958, this group were housed here.
conditions were taken into account. By the conclusion of the War, International Harvester engineering
group, in addition to adapting imported machinery for local use had entirely designed a wide range of
machines for use in South East Asia. “Some of the most notable achievements of the group included the
design of a local header harvester (a machine unique to Australia and New Zealand harvesting methods),
scarifier and cultivating drill.
The strength of the engineering plant was enlarged by the addition of a motor truck testing staff. The motor
truck engines were tested at Geelong, with other components of the trucks tested in the actual operating
conditions on the road. Later, the motor truck engineering staff moved to Dandenong.
The main work of the early motor truck testing staff was confined to merely adapting imported trucks to local
conditions. Early in the 1950’s the motor truck group joined forces with the Australian Government for the
development of a vehicle for use by the Australian Army. This was the first truck completely designed in
Australia.
The design concept of this army truck was used to design the first commercial truck to be completely
designed and manufactured in Australia. This was known as the ACCO series.
The engineering staff was further enhanced by the establishment of another engineering group
concentrating on the Construction equipment line. When the company purchased its Port Melbourne
Works in 1958, this group were housed here.
PROVING GROUND
It soon became obvious that the company needed a Proving
Ground to test all its products, so approximately 1,161 hectares
(2,5556 acres) were purchased at Wormbete near Anglesea,
Victoria, in 1961.
Work commenced quickly on the construction of many testing
courses within the Proving Ground.
Anglesea proving Ground is the largest automotive proving
ground in Australia, it containing rigorous test courses notably, a
truck chassis twist course, a motor truck test loop, a loader test
area, just to name a few.
It soon became obvious that the company needed a Proving
Ground to test all its products, so approximately 1,161 hectares
(2,5556 acres) were purchased at Wormbete near Anglesea,
Victoria, in 1961.
Work commenced quickly on the construction of many testing
courses within the Proving Ground.
Anglesea proving Ground is the largest automotive proving
ground in Australia, it containing rigorous test courses notably, a
truck chassis twist course, a motor truck test loop, a loader test
area, just to name a few.
Soon afterwards (early 1962) all engineering staff were moved into the Product Engineering Centre.
Dandenong and Port Melbourne Works used a resident engineering group. By 1969 the strength of the
engineering department had grown to well over 200.
This staff were responsible for the development of a vast range of trucks, tractors, farm, construction and
industrial equipment.
produced in 1853 what has been accepted as the World’s first practical reaper.
The first American reaper reached Australia in 1852 and in 1856 a McCormick reaper
won a prize in this country for ingenuity in agriculture.
In 1874 Cyrus Hall McCormick produced a wire tying grain binder, which tied the grain into sheaves then
tossed it onto the ground. He did this until in 1880 when he learnt that William Deering “had made and sold
3000 twine self binders.” Farmers preferred this material for tying sheaves compared to wire. Naturally, with
sales figures of this magnitude, William Deering became Cyrus Mc Cormick’s, main competitor.
At the age of seventy he entered into a trade war with Deering, a battle which did not end until the two
organisations combined with other manufactures in 1902 to form the International Harvester Company of
America.
The first American reaper reached Australia in 1852 and in 1856 a McCormick reaper
won a prize in this country for ingenuity in agriculture.
In 1874 Cyrus Hall McCormick produced a wire tying grain binder, which tied the grain into sheaves then
tossed it onto the ground. He did this until in 1880 when he learnt that William Deering “had made and sold
3000 twine self binders.” Farmers preferred this material for tying sheaves compared to wire. Naturally, with
sales figures of this magnitude, William Deering became Cyrus Mc Cormick’s, main competitor.
At the age of seventy he entered into a trade war with Deering, a battle which did not end until the two
organisations combined with other manufactures in 1902 to form the International Harvester Company of
America.