History, dwyers

The Dwyers Family History

"Coaches To Cars"

Established in 1898, Dwyers is a long standing family owned and operate business, with more than 110 years experience in the automotive industry.

Currently franchise holders for both Toyota & Mitsubishi in the Bairnsdale (East Gipplsand) region.

Kevin Dwyer the (Dealer Principal) and Anthony Dwyer (General Manager) are both full time in the business, Anthony being fourth generation the the family business.

Animated History

Take an animated tour of the History of
Dwyers Gippsland.

Detailed History

Coaches To Cars

The Dwyers History

1898	Jeremiah Dwyer, a young man, built a small shop in Nicholson Street operating as General Blacksmith and Farrier before the Boer War.
1902	Buildings were extended to accommodate the manufacture and repair of farm implements. Stables and grain storage facilities were constructed facing Bailey Street.
1906	Jeremiah married Jane Giles from Meerlieu and built a home at Picnic Point, then broadacres, now 24 Riley Street, West Bairnsdale.
1908	The building of buggies, jinkers, drays, wagons and carts was in full swing. Built to order-cash or time payment, free stabling for customers!
1912	Listed in "East Gippsland Coach Factory" Wheelwright Rubber Tyring while you wait. Paint and Trim shop operating.
1914	World War One. Introduced vehicle servicing at Dwyers. Jeremiah drove an Oakland car from Picnic Point every day. The family firm now advertised as "opposite the Post Office". How the phone numbers have GROWN:- 94 3094 523094 51523094
1920	Jeremiah and Jane Dwyer had three children. Kathleen Dwyer married Tom McMahon -two children John and Michael. John Dwyer married Clare Suding -two children Kevin and Carmel. Frank Dwyer died in 1943 while serving in the R.A.A.F.
1927	Accepted franchise for English cars, Hillman and Rover. John Dwyer started work with the firm on the 27th of October for a very long innings!
1929	First garage in Bairnsdale to introduce Duco spraying. American cars available Rugby, and Graham Paige, international financial markets crashed. The Great Depression! It was tough surviving in a small business. A barter system evolved whereby people who had no money, paid the bills with pumpkins and chickens etc., a practice that continued for many years.
1937	Diamond T trucks and Austin cars. The latter remained with Dwyers until 1968 -Austin 7 horsepower retail price 199 pounds. Today -who knows?
1939	Dodge, Hudson and Chrysler -many makes available. Really fierce competition in the marketplace. Then World War II started, vehicle supplies stopped, sales ceased, everything changed to War production. National recruiting created staff shortages. Workshop engineering demands for the services of both the Land Army and the Bairnsdale R.A.A.F. Base stretched our capacity.
1946	Saw the demolition of all the old buildings, stables etc., a huge auction held, brass lamps, equipment, buggies. Everything went including a lot of history. What did not sell was broken up and thrown in the tip. Regretfully in hindsight! All in the name of modernising. Out with the old, in with the new.
1949	On the corner of Nicholson and Bailey Streets was a saddlery rented from Jeremiah by a Mr Darcy. Dwyers business was expanding and needed additional space. Darcy was relocated to 93-101 Main Street. The time of the Austin A30 / A40 / A70 / A90. Demand vastly exceeded supply - The reverse applies today!
1951	Vehicles from Austin Motor Company now shipped from Longbridge, England in Baltic pine crates to Melbourne, loaded on semi-trailers by Bairnsdale’s leading transport company and transported directly to Dwyers for assembly and de-waxing, a crude assembly line! The Stratford railway bridge caught one driver out, crated cars stacked two high did not fit -Drive via Maffra.
1955	Kevin Dwyer began work in spare parts. Austin and Dodge were still our main franchises, but now we ferried the vehicles in convoy by road, a long slow drive at 30mph, six hours from Melbourne to Bairnsdale.
1964	British Motor Corporation Dealers, Austin Morris Wolseley MG Triumph with Albion trucks. Remember the Mini? "Some still survive"
1967	Kevin Dwyer married Kay Jackson, from Sale.
1969	Dwyers Garage Leyland Motor Corporation dealers. Jaguar and Daimler sold well this year. 46-56 Nicholson Street now far too small. Created a place at 93-101 Main Street -quality used car display.
1971	Nissan Motor Company (Japanese product) came to the fore. Dwyers Datsun starts at 93-101 Main Street. Datsun 120Y - 180B - 240C good vehicles trouble free.
1975	Kevin and Kay now have three children - Maigan, Susan and Anthony - Leyland P76 big car. Value for money.
1978	Opening of Unipart 19th October, on the corner of Nicholson and Bailey Streets. Vehicle Spare Parts and Auto Accessories Nicholson Street, self-selection mini market. Rover / Landrover currently selling well.
1984	Dwyers Datsun - Dwyers Nissan. An unnecessary name change costing the manufacturer and retailers in market share and huge cost in marketing.
1987	Sold 93-101 Main Street (now Nicks Clothing etc.). Used vehicle operation moved to part of Errol Stewart Ford site at 449 Princes Highway.
1991	Appointed Toyota dealer for East Gippsland. Relocated from our historical site in Nicholson Street to the Princes Highway opposite the East Gippsland Hospital, refurbished and upgraded the facility increased staff numbers and kept running!
1993	Top Awards did come our way. Presidents Excellence, Rural Dealer of the Year, Individual Awards for Service, Parts, Excellence Business Management and Customer Satisfaction. We have had some very good years and some ordinary, the seasons are constantly changing.
1995	Dwyers purchased land to the east of their premises, Cuthbertson and Richards sawmill, and built a new showroom adding both Japanese Mitsubishi and Korean Daewoo in the same year, adding both opportunity and complexity to our operation.
1996	December moved into the City of Sale, taking over the Toyota / Suzuki dealership in York Street as a branch operation of Bairnsdale, connecting the sites into one computer system.
1997	Lui Mosele, Dwyers longest serving employee, retired after 48 years. Loyalty! Lui held a unique position in the history of the firm. He has covered all four generations joining in 1948 as Jeremiah was fading from the picture, through John and Kevin and retiring shortly after Anthony joined the firm in January 1997. To take up the reins one day?
1998	One hundred years have flashed by .... For all the daily dramas, we have survived, taking the long-term view and really appreciate the loyal support of customers and staff. Dwyers - truly here for the Long Run - with a vehicle for everyone.
2000	Much about nothing –“The Millennium Bug”. Huge costs in computer upgrades!
2001	Appointed the Daihatsu Dealer in both Bairnsdale & Sale, owned and Europcar Vehicle rentals franchise for Gippsland started in Sale, now also in Bairnsdale. Presentation to Dwyers from Esanda, a great association which started for us as English, Scottish and Australian Bank over thirty years ago!
2002	Fantastic Year: “Presidents Award” again, “Rural Dealer of the Year” again, and both Parts & Service Silver Excellence Awards. Also recognition for excellence in business management, customer service and satisfaction in all aspects of the business.
2003	Martin Boyle recognised by Toyota for outstanding service, loyalty and dedication to the franchise 1973 – 2003.
2004	Anthony Dwyer married Dayna Battams from Loxton S.A. Expansion of buildings, car parks / vehicle storage and staff numbers continues a pace.
2006	Another long Server recruited direct from school, reached the significant milestone of Thirty Years with our family, Peter Trimnell wife Anne and their four children celebrated here with guests and staff for the Presentation – Speeches, a happy night! Rural Dealer of the Year, Customer Relations, Sales, Service and Parts Excellence Awards again. We aspire to excel in customer support! Resolved to sell Sale and expand Bairnsdale. New facias, automatic electric doors installed. The works/expectations never seem to end. We enjoy the challenge!!
2007	.....