 | |
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1945 |
| Defunct | 1965; 61 years ago (1965) |
| Fate | Merged withChrysler Australia |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Australia |
| Products | Automobiles |
| Brands | |
| Parent | Rootes Group |
Rootes Australia was the Australian affiliate of theRootes Group, a British motor vehicle manufacturing company.[1]
The company was formed immediately after theSecond World War[1] initially operating as an importing and distribution firm.[2] In 1946, it began assemblingHillman Minx vehicles atPort 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 asNoble Park), nearDandenong in Victoria. However, the proposed plant was never built.[1]
Hillman,Humber andSinger 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 withChrysler Australia.[1] Assembly operations were continued at the Port Melbourne facility[8] and Hillman cars, Humber cars andCommer trucks were now sold by Chrysler dealers.[8] Chrysler was quick to phase out the Humber brand,[9] however assembly of theHillman Arrow and Hunter range was commenced in early 1967.[9] Chrysler Australia also utilised Port Melbourne for assembly of theDodge Phoenix from 1968 andMitsubishi'sGalant from 1971.[9] The last Hillman Hunter was produced in November 1972,[10] and, with Dodge Phoenix and Galant assembly transferred toTonsley Park in South Australia at the end of 1972, the Port Melbourne facility was closed.[10]
Significant models produced by Rootes Australia included the following:
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