A concise History of Thomas Robinson & Sons in Australia

The Beginning:

Thomas Robinson & Son of Rochdale, England; had sent "engines" and won awards at the exhibitions in Sydney (1879 through to 1880) and later in 1880 in Melbourne, and obviously at least one representative would have attended. Wood working machinery was the primary product range in 1880, and it was not until 1883 that Robinsons of Rochdale started manufacturing "Roller Mill Plants".

Research at the State Library of N.S.W. has uncovered the fact that the company had offices in 8 locations during the first sixty years. It now seems most likely that the Robinson representative, who attended the above exhibitions, either stayed in Australia, or returned within a year to handle the resultant business prospects, and opened an office in Australia. A major clue to an office in Sydney prior to 1887 comes from a copy of a printed letter and a printed quotation "front sheet" dated 22 February 1887. The address of Mears Chambers, corner of Pitt and King Streets, Sydney, had been crossed out on the letter, but the quotation sheet had the correct address. As listed below, we see that in 1887 they still used ‘letter heads" printed in about 1881 or 1882, with the quotation sheets dating from after 1884. (See copy of this quotation at the end of this document.)

The Company:

Until December 1921, the Australian office and workshops were a Branch of Thomas Robinson & Son, Limited of Rochdale, Lancashire, England. The Articles of Associated are dated 13th December 1921.

On the 12th of January 1922, a Company was formed as Thomas Robinson & Son (Australia) Limited, having Australian based directors as well as some of the main Board in Rochdale.

The first Annual General Meeting of the "new" Company was held on the 19th of April 1922.

In accordance with changes in Australian law, the name of the Company was changed on 11th of June 1937, to Thomas Robinson & Son, Pty. Limited, a title that continued for another 50 years.

Early Land:

The early land dealings are somewhat confusing, especially as the records prior to 1922 and between 1927 and 1935 are missing.

The first land purchase may have resulted form the decision by the Rochdale Board in 1892 to build a factory. It is possible that the first workshop was built on land sold in 1925, when a minute of the meeting on 18 June 1925 refers to: "Thomas Robinson & Son, transferred land to R.J. Archibald to the White Rose Mills Ltd." One wonders if a special deal was struck in order to gain further business?

However, the Company leased land in Glebe in about 1912, being lot 40 D.P. 5814 Sydney, which had an 18’ frontage on George Street West (renamed after widening, Broadway) and running back to Owen Lane, being 120’ from the Mountain Street corner towards Howard Street. This land appears to be too small for a workshop, but could have been a store? Also in about 1921, lots 4 &5 Section 1 of Burwood Estate (Railway Parade) was purchased, no further mention of this property has been yet found.

All the early offices appear to have been rented / leased or on mortgage until the outright purchase of 160 –166 Sussex Street. However, the Company is known to have purchased some parcels of land outside the Sydney inner city area, likely as a result of profits made during the period 1900 –1925 when business was very good, and a few interesting events relating to this land is as follows:

The Board meeting in October 1922, mentions "purchased vacant land at Alexandria". Part of this land appears to be the land later used for the new workshop, see under The Workshops.

The meeting on 23 January 1923 refers to 7 acres at Mascot, but in August 1923, they sold one and three quarter acres of this land. A minute on 28 May 1926 states "land at Mascot sold to the Government Education Department. The Harbour Street offices were being paid for on a mortgage at this time.

The meeting on 19 December 1923 refers to the sale of 3 acres off O’Riordan Street, Alexandria, having a frontage of 200 feet and a depth of 600 feet. (Appears to have been at the north end where it merges with Bourke Street.)

Recorded on 24 June 1926 was the purchase from agents Raine & Horne of 7 more acres adjoining the O’Riordan Street property.

Also in June 1926, the Railways Department wrote requesting permission to dump soil from the City Circle railway work site onto the Robinson land at Mascot, but the Board refused. However, Robinson did give permission shortly afterwards to Dorman Long (builders of the Sydney Harbour Bridge) to "dump soil from the Bridge".

Two additional acres of land at Alexandria had been purchased by September 1926.

In May 1937, a Minute stated "Alexandria factory and land to be sold". However, the factory was already being rented to W.H. Plumb (Australia), "who had installed furnaces which were causing damage", and they had been given notice to quit. It appears that the factory rented by W.H. Plumb may have been the factory built in 1924 and replaced in 1926?

In July 1937, a note seems to suggest the whole of the vacant land at Alexandria be sold to Messrs. Butler & Norman Ltd. Then, in August 1937, mention is made of a leasing Alexandria to British Stanley Machinery Co. Ltd. for a period of six months.

September 1937, there is a mention that "vacant land at Alexandria" was sold. (Reg. 610, book 1792 and 611, book 1792.)

Sale of the Alexandria factory and "other land" had been finalised, and all money received by November 1938.

In December 1937, as an option to the Sussex Street property land had been looked at "over Pyrmont Bridge, but England wanted them to stay within the City."

January 1945 saw the Company considering various land options, of between 35,000 and 60,000 square feet including: "Land and premises at Rushcutters Bay", "#2 Rosebery." "North Sydney" (which required Government approval), "Raine & Horne to submit an offer for land owned by the Main Roads Board" and "at Gore Hill, but the land was later considered too be big." However, due to the fact that any new site could take two years to develop, it was decided to lease part of the premises of J. J. Sullivan next door at 168 Sussex Street. (See the next section for this expansion.)

The Board Meeting on 6th July 1951 states, "consider purchase land in the Municipality of Canterbury", the location was not recorded.

Again in June 1955, land was being considered at Mascot, "to build a Pattern, Silo equipment and machines store". However, after agreeing to purchase, were advised in February 1956, that the land was no longer for sale.

In February 1962, the need to move was again considered, and by the 8th May, land had been purchased at Revesby. Lot # 105, Marigold Street, Bankstown, comprised 1.75 acres and included a "6 room brick cottage", was purchased from Karlo Skybinsky of 192 Chapel Road Bankstown for the sum of 10,800 pounds.

The Offices:

The importance of the City offices in the early days was not only to be close to most of the Sydney Mills, but also, this part of Sydney included the dock area. Accordingly, all of the offices of the Shipping Lines, Importing Agents and Customs House were within easy walking distance. It was common practice for very many years, for ‘runners’ to be employed to carry documents between the wharves and various offices. There would be many interesting tales to tell about the exploits of some of the characters employed during this period. The introduction of improved methods of communication, the establishment of other mills in the suburbs of Sydney, and finally the use of containers for shipment that necessitated the opening of Port Botany, that made very good sense for the move to a brand new office and factory at Revesby.

For very many years the telegram address was "Wollombi".

The office locations in Sydney, with known dates of occupation were as follows:

1st. Mears Chambers, 138 Pitt Street, (on corner with King Street.) From about 1881 to 1884. Later this property became "The King’s Hotel"
2nd. 280 Sussex Street, from 1884 to after 1887, and that these premises also contained a Store, which would indicate the employment of additional staff. Was the first Australian to work for the company employed in 1884 as a labourer / storeman? 280 Sussex Street, had been vacant in 1882, but in 1883 was occupied by Ty Ling, grocer.

3rd. 286 – 288 Sussex Street, from before 1891 to 1892. McCorquodale Mill later occupied this site.

4th. 319 Kent Street from 1893 until May 1907 and from the middle of 1898 had a telephone number Central 3011.
The trade directories of this period do not mention a workshop in another location, but it is likely that the workshop did not have an office or telephone, so all inquiries were handled at the Kent Street address.

5th. 93 Bathurst Street from May 1907 until June 1915, likely to have been an office only. The telephone number was transferred, but in August 1912 the number was changed to City 6501. Can we assume that the "first" workshop closed when they moved into larger premises in Harbour Street?

6th. 75 – 91 Harbour Street from June 1915 until early 1930, and transferred the City 6501 number, which was changed in April 1928 to MA 2812, and the following month a second line MA 4971 was added. Also listed, for the first time was "in case of breakdown", were the following: Mr. O. Bellmaine phone FU 9456, Mr. Parker phone Y1425, and Mr. Slatyer phone Petersham 2754. In May 1929, the "after hours" were Mr. Goodall and Mr. Slatyer. See the photograph of this three-story building, on a corner block showing the words "Flour Milling & Saw Milling Engineers" displayed on both ‘fronts’. An inside view of the general office shows three female and three male staff, and a very early Dictaphone being used by a typist.

7th. 190 Clarence Street (this address was numbered 192 until October 1936). The telephone books from May 1930 until May 1939 DO NOT LIST A WORKS NUMBER. This address was occupied from early 1930 until December 1939, the notice to terminate the "lease" being presented in August 1939. (Owners unknown.) "After hours in 1933 were: Styles (WW), A. Hamilton of Epping (FM), and Jeffrey secretary on Y 3909. Styles had left in 1934, and in May 1937 the listing was Jeffrey, Hamilton and Douglas (WW).

8th. 160 – 166 Sussex Street was occupied from December 1939 until December 1967. After much searching for larger premises, which would include space for the workshop, negotiations for the purchase of this Sussex Street property was started in July 1937. The property comprised three floors, of brick and stone construction, the site being 75 feet wide by 117 feet long. A minute stating "requires addition of engineers shop at rear", and that that the vendor’s asking price was over 12,000 pounds. Following many months of negotiations a price of 10,000 pounds was finally agreed, but various legal complications on the part of the vendor meant that it was just over two years before occupation, after having completed the necessary alterations costing just over 6000 pounds. The building comprised 5 bays, and the ground floor bays were used for garage, entrance, strong room, workshop and rear access. The first floor contained office and store

War Time Regulations in December 1941, required an air raid shelter on the premises, and that "black out" alterations should be completed as quickly as possible. Initially, an architect stated that "no suitable place could be found for an air raid shelter", however, soon afterwards a shelter was provided in the Pattern shop bay on the ground floor.

Rochdale approved the purchase of new machines for the engineers shop in October 1944, however, approval also had to be obtained from the Ministry of Munitions but was rejected a month later.

The Board authorised the installation of a sprinkler system after having obtained two quotations.

As early as September 1944, the Board was considering the search for larger premises; this however did not proceed, as it is believed they still wished to stay in the City.
In March 1945, the Sullivan lease was signed, and alterations were made including "new wooden floor over the existing mezzanine floor giving access from present 2nd. Floor, remove certain arches on the ground and 2nd. Floors to make 2nd. Floor more adaptable for a joiners shop." The area in Sullivan’s premises became the Drawing Office.

By 1949, the idea of moving to larger premises was no longer a consideration due to the general shortage of many materials in Australia, and decisions had been made to curtail most of the Wood Working and some of the Flour Milling local manufacture which was transferred to Rochdale.

Various repairs and improvements were made in the early 1950’s, including office lighting and external painting.

Leased 2nd and 3rd floors at 168 – 174 Sussex Street from June 1963.

The Sussex Street property was "made good" and the sale finalised on 5th February 1968.

Phone numbers MA 2812 and MA 4971 were transferred, but later changed to BX 6956 and 6957.

Post Office Boxes started as Box 58, King Street, then to 2680 EE, Sydney.

9th. 23 – 25 Marigold Street, Revesby from January 1968, and continuing with Satake.

Further details see also Workshops section.

The frequent changing of addresses seems to reflect the development of Sydney in those days. The opposition, Henry Simon Ltd., also had a number of Sydney addresses during this period, starting with their agents G.H. Rhodes at 57 York Street in 1890, and then as Henry Simon at 93 York Street, 330 Kent Street. In 1897, Henry Simon also has premises at Meadowbank as well as 93 York Street.

The Branch Offices, and Representation:

Thomas Robinson established branch offices, or resident representatives and or agents, over the years, and for varying periods, in the following cities:

Melbourne, Victoria; plus South Australia and Tasmania representation.

The earliest record of activities in Victoria, was the appointment of an agent to handle the sales of Wood working machines, it appeared that Flour Milling sales generally being based in Sydney in the early years.

Agents had been operating before 1922, and mention has been made of Bevan & Edwards Company of Victoria opening an office in Adelaide in June 1926 and offering to represent Robinson in South Australia.

A month later C.A. Smith & Co. of Adelaide made an offer to act as our agents and the terms were agreed upon on 26 August 1926. In December 1926, Bevan & Edwards also became agents for an American wood working machinery company, and Robinson considered there would be a conflict of interest and suggested termination on 23 December 1926.

An agreement was made in April 1936 with J.T. Trevorrow & Son, of Melbourne to handle the Roll Grinding and Grooving business, mention being made that was "the same as that in Christchurch". The Trevorrow agreement must have terminated as in March 1952 they were instructed to return the Roll Grinding and Grooving machine, but was not moved until the new premises were ready in August 1954.

The A.G.M. in Sydney had in 1953, decided to purchase land in Melbourne for offices and a workshop, and would proceed after J. Jeffrey returned from his trip to England. The land purchased in August 1953, was at 476 Geelong Road, West Footscray, and was occupied in September 1954, when they purchased a second hand lathe and a milling machine. However, in October 1954 space required for the Roll Grinding & Grooving machine necessitated an annex and therefore it was built and completed in December 1954.

Iron doors and a "brick fence" was added in April 1958. Staff at this branch included Technical Sales, Secretary, Service Engineers, Mill Erectors, and Roll Grinding & Grooving machine operator. On 31 January 1963, it was decided to discontinue manufacture, except for the roll grinding and grooving.

In May 1938, the Victorian Wood working agency had been given to S. Robertson Pty. Ltd., but was terminated in October 1945. It is recorded in August 1941, that these agents "had a small office in their premises originally taken for our Flour Milling interests at a rent of 1 pound per week".

Early in 1946, M. McCloughty, an ex employee of S. Robertson was appointed Victorian and South Australian representative; there was still accommodation for the Flour milling man. The McCloughty agency was still in operation in July 1954, when the agreement was extended for another 3 years, but was terminated on 28 February 1955 when Tiny Turrin became resident wood working representative. W. H. Wright replaced H. McCloughty, a wood working service engineer in February 1956.

Mr. R. H. Halliday resigned as Wood working agent in South Australia in June 1947, and was replaced by Mr. L. J. Gluyas of Adelaide who retired on 30 June 1959.

October 1950, the Tasmanian wood working agent was Messrs. R. L. Milligan & Son Ltd. the agreement continued until October 1964.

Wm. Adams & Co. Ltd. became an agent for Flour and Wood in July 1959, in South Australia, the territory included Broken Hill.

Austin Quinn Pty. Ltd. became a sub agent in Melbourne in November 1959, and Robinson had use of their showroom in Rosslyn Street, North Melbourne.

Hillston & Co. Pty. Ltd. became a Melbourne metropolitan only sub agent for Wood working machines in July 1964.

W. (Bill) Stait was the flour milling representative, later manager, resident in Melbourne from before 1950 until the mid 1970’s, and in his later years was known as "the late Mr. Stait", because he often got so absorbed in a project that he would be late for the next appointment.

In the 1970’s this office had a large client base, which included Tasmania and South Australia, and of which about half these clients purchased Woodworking machines. The last representative, Tom Bialek, left the Company in 1986; the office had closed prior to that date.

Brisbane, Queensland:

The first record of an agent in Queensland was in July 1926, being the Engineering Supply Company Ltd. of Australia, representing it is believed only Wood Working machines, until May 1966, they also to hold some flour milling spares. In August 1926, there is mention of an E. Scott, but is not known if he was an employee of Robinson or E.S.C. Ltd. Apart from Flour Milling major contracts, see later, there were many sales of woodworking machines.

Also during 1926 a quotation was submitted to the Queensland Government Department of Agriculture for a Seed Cleaning plant at Toowoomba.

Consideration was given in July 1954 to have a resident technical representative in Queensland.

R. Jackson Ltd. of Eagles Street, Brisbane became the Companies Brisbane Customs agent in October 1954, and made space available for stock.

Alan Sherwin arrived in Brisbane in October 1954, staying until returning in November 1957. In October 1958 Ray Mallard, who had resigned in August 1957, returned and went to Brisbane, his house and small office and store was in Indooroopilly, he returned to Marigold Street in February 1963. There were no further resident representatives.

Effective June 1966, the Queensland Machines Co. Pty. Ltd. of Brisbane became the agent in Northern N.S.W., Queensland, Northern Territory, P.N.G., the Bismark Archipelago and the Solomons, but appears to have terminated by the early 1970’s.

Perth, Western Australia:

In 1946, McLean Bros. & Rigg of Perth were agents for both wood working and flour milling, was replaced in April 1960 by Wm. Adams Ltd. who were also at that time agents for Henry Simon Australia. However, due to the conflict of interest, on 14 February 1961 Flower, Davies & Johnson Pty. Ltd. (later called Flower, Davies, Wemco Pty. Ltd.); of Murray Street, Perth, were appointed, being a company that also provided a service to companies in the Eastern States, offering agency warehousing, sales and distribution. This arrangement was terminated about 1979 or 1980.

New Zealand:

The first resident representative was J. Purvis, (a member of the permanent staff since 1922) who was transferred from Sydney in July 1926 to Christchurch; actual location of an office is unknown. An account was established with the Christchurch branch of the Bank of New South Wales shortly after his arrival.

It is assumed that J. Purvis was a Flour Milling engineer, because mention is made on 16 January 1924 of reimbursing R.A. Hammersley for the distribution of "circulars" and other costs. Hammersley only acted as Wood Working machines agent, and further noted on 15 July 1926 that he had obtained orders from New Zealand Railways. On 19 August, R.A. Hammersley terminated his agreement with Robinson Australia, and a new agreement permitted him to deal directly with Rochdale.

In August 1942, due to wartime currency exchange problems, arrangement was made for New Zealand customers to pay their accounts into the bank in Christchurch.

The agency held by Andersons Ltd. was terminated in S