Back to 50 years

of Austin

Back to BMC in Australia

A Life with British Cars

When I started as an apprentice at BMC in Zetland, near Sydney, I was given two booklets along with my indenture papers, and have treasured them ever since. These booklets were "BMC in Australia" and "AUSTIN - 50 years of car progress". The Austin site is a transcript of the latter booklet. It was published by The Austin Motor Company Limited in 1955 and is Publication No. 1235. Both of these form the basis for two of my web sites.

Also in my possession is a medal which is 65 mm in diameter to celebrate the "Austin Golden Jubilee". This was found at a swap meet in the seventies. This is a nice addition to the Austin 50th anniversary.

Now that 100 years of "Austin" has passed it is nice to reflect on those first fifty years of growth and reflect on the next 50 years of demise. Also that the Longbridge factory is no more the home of Austin.

Some historians may disagree with some of the content of "AUSTIN - 50 years of car progress", but it must be remembered that this is the history as seen by Austin itself in the 50's. The last paragraph is especially interesting, considering the fact that we can now look back in hindsight at the way in which not only Austin, but most of the British motor industry was decimated by Leyland, the British Government and even more so by British Aerospace, BMW and eventually Ford. I found it inconceivable that a global company like Ford appeared to be totally clueless when it came to marque values as well as customer and employee loyalty.

The only hope for the future of these fine marques now lies with foreign owners. Unfortunately for the those of us who recognise the innovative original product of BMC and Alex Issigonis , BMW unfortunately took a glamorous young new Mini and dressed her up as a bit of a tart - shame on them.

Web Site Author (Webmaster) - John Harris Lindsay.

I was 15, when I started as an Austin apprentice in the BMC factory on the Victoria Park site at Zetland. My career continued for 48 years, with BMC, British Leyland, Leyland Australia, JRA Limited, Rover Australia, and finally the Premier Automotive Group (Jaguar & Land Rover) before the "restructuring" by owner's Ford presenting me with the opportunity of forced retirement.

In my time in the industry I witnessed the British motor industry in Australia go from total brilliance to almost obscurity by poor decisions, bad management and some less than perfect vehicles - mainly bad management. This, mixed in with some totally brilliant, innovative and unique products and a very diversified and friendly workforce, made it an experience which very few experience in a lifetime. 

Although Austin, Morris, Wolseley, Riley and Leyland are long gone. Rover and MG cars were distributed in Australia by JRA Limited, Rover Australia and Motor Group Australia. Rover Australia also brought in the MG F in small numbers before the whole Rover Group was decimated by poor management by their then new owners, BMW. Since those terrible times under German ownership,  Rover and MG made a comeback until lack of funding for new development forced the closure of the old Austin plant at Longbridge. Now under Chinese ownership of

We may never see the return of the famous BMC makes, but at least MG will continue to fight on, albeit under new Chinese ownership.

I now wonder what Herbert Austin and William Morris would think?

What can be done?

Very little history of BMC in Australia survives today, due mainly to the changes in ownership and location over the years. I have a small library of personal items and memorabilia as well as and a lot of memories, and hope to share this wherever possible. As with most people, my only limit is time, there is just too much to do and too little time.

Some people have continued to maintain the dream and a dedicated group of ex-employees have continued to organize an annual get together for ex-employees, and over the last 30 years or so, they must be applauded for their efforts. Hopefully there will be many of us left to continue attending this annual event for a long time yet.

In 1998, again initiated by ex-employees a gathering was formed for a formal reunion was held, for all those who could be contacted, to once more walk around the old site before it was bulldozed to make way for a housing development. It was then realized that much of the history was fading and as a result, the "BMC- Leyland Australia Heritage Group" was founded with a mission to save the history of the factory, it's products and people.

If you have any comments on BMC history, the web site or can contribute in any way, please contact myself or the Heritage Group. I especially want a lend of original photographs, company magazines and automobilia to photograph or copy and expand the content of this web site. All items will be returned in undamaged condition.

Did you work at BMC or Leyland Australia in Zetland?

Do you know anyone who did?

There is an informal reunion every year for ex-employees at the Doncaster Hotel, Kensington from 4.45 PM

1st. Friday every December.

Spread the word - it gets bigger every year!