GM(A)/GM-H Fortitude Valley Plant
This Plant, situated at 534 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley, has been variously referred to in different articles as Newstead, The Valley, Bowen Hills, and Fortitude Valley - a trap for unwary researchers!
In 1926, GMA had temporary headquarters in Griffiths Buildings, Queen Street Brisbane. From here, they oversaw the building of their new factory in Fortitude Valley, which was officially opened on 15th January, 1927.
The one-storey building, formerly a Ford service station, was extensively renovated with the addition of a second story to bring the total floor area to 96,000 sq. ft. When production started in February, the plant had a capacity to assemble 40 cars a day and had 120 employees.
The factory continued the work of assembling Bodies shipped in from Melbourne to Chassis assembled from kit parts, also shipped in from Overseas and locally. The first vehicle off the production line was a 20/60 Vauxhall but production eventually also included Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac.
The employees lost no time in organising themselves and by 6 February 1927 had formed a Recreation Club to foster sporting activies of many sorts.
That year, there was no provision made for Automobiles at the Royal National Show, so GMA organised a Motor Show of their own, on a vacant block opposite their premises. The published report gives very detailed descriptions of the many and various models on display.
The Plant enjoyed prosperity until it was closed in July, 1931, owing to a considerable decrease in motor vehicle sales through the Depression and the production of General Motors lines for Australia was concentrated in their Melbourne plant to keep assembly costs at a minimum.
But by April 1934, the market was judged by Eagers (their Queensland Agents) to be strong enough to support the reopening of the Plant, which was carried out on 3rd April, 1934.
The Wickham St Plant closed in December 1965 and was replaced by the new Acacia Ridge Plant which commenced limited production in January 1966.
| Date | Source | Description | Link |
| 1926 Dec 09 | Daily Mercury Mackay | Report of visit to GMA offices | |
| 1927 Aug 02 | Brisbane Courier | Car show at Wickham street | |
| 1927 Feb 26 | Brisbane Telegraph | GMA Qld Social Club Telegraph | |
| 1927 Jan 15 | Brisbane Telegraph | Brisbane Plant opening | |
| 1927 Jan 17 | Brisbane Courier | New Plant Wickham street | |
| 1927 Jan 22 | Queensland Figaro | Brisbane Plant opening | |
| 1927 Mar 06 | Truth | Sydney fire interferes with Bris | |
| 1934 April 03 | Courier - Mail | Queensland Plant reopened | |
| 1934 May 06 | Truth | HMBB Plant moves to Wickham Street | |
| 1998 Nov 11 | Courier - Mail | Wickham St Plant to be demolished. |
| Date | Description | Link |
| 1962 Dec | Wickham Street, Aerial view of plant | JPG |
| Wickham Street, Aerial view of plant | JPG | |
| Wickham Street, Aerial view of plant | JPG | |
(Courtesy of Hugh Hill)
| Date | Description | Link |
| 1927 Feb | First vehicle offline at Wickham Street Plant, a Vauxhall 20/60 model | JPG |
| 1944 Mar 07 | Wickham Street Plant from the front | JPG |
| 1944 Mar 07 | Wickham Street Plant from the side | JPG |
| 1960 Aug 24 | 1st floor from north wall | JPG |
| 1960 Aug 24 | Body receiving 1st floor | JPG |
| 1960 Aug 24 | Body receiving and rear of plant | JPG |
| 1960 Aug 24 | Elevated line,1st floor | JPG |
| 1960 Aug 24 | Front end attachment, welding and black dip | JPG |
| 1960 Aug 24 | Front end attachment, welding and black dip | JPG |
| 1960 Aug 24 | Ground floor chassis assembly | JPG |
| 1960 Aug 24 | Ground floor touch-up area | JPG |
| 1960 Aug 24 | Yard area and front of plant | JPG |
| 1960 Sep 29 | Body receiving and wash area Cnr Hynes & Light St | JPG |
| 1960 Sep 29 | Excavations for extension to paint store | JPG |
| 1960 Sep 29 | Warehouse, new office and supply store | JPG |
| 1960 Sep 29 | Yard and touch-up areas | JPG |
| 1960 Nov 02 | Construction of body wash building | JPG |
| 1960 Nov 02 | Touch-up area building | JPG |
| 1960 Nov 12 | Crane lifting steel for roof, Cnr Hynes& Light St | JPG |
| 1960 Nov 12 | Excavation and covering for water test conveyors | JPG |
| 1960 Nov 12 | Yard area showing touch-up building | JPG |
| 1960 Dec 12 | Installation of body drop and gantries 1st floor | JPG |
| 1960 Dec 12 | Installation of elevated T-bar conveyor from tail end | JPG |
| 1960 Dec 12 | New body wash building, Cnr Hynes & Light St | JPG |
| 1960 Dec 12 | New touch-up line building | JPG |
| 1960 Dec 12 | New welding area 1st floor | JPG |
| 1961 Oct 30 | Car park and body wash building | JPG |
| 1961 Oct 30 | Conveyor 1st floor from cab drop | JPG |
| 1961 Oct 30 | Elevated line from colour oven | JPG |
| 1961 Oct 30 | Ground floor assembly lines from No 3 entrance | JPG |
| 1961 Oct 30 | Plant offices from Wickham Street | JPG |
| 1961 Oct 30 | Touch-up lines from No 3 entrance Wickham Street | JPG |
| 1961 Oct 30 | Warehouse, degreaser and boiler | JPG |
| 1961 Oct 30 | Welding area group 417 from boiler | JPG |
| c1962 | Plant from Hynes Street | JPG |
| c1963 | Valley Assembly Plant | JPG |
| c1963 | Wickham Street view | JPG |
| c1964 | Wickham Street view | JPG |
| c1964 | Hydramatic Tooling and lifting sling description | JPG |
| c1964 | View of yard and Light Street buildings Wickham Street view | JPG |
| 1986 | View of Wickham Street Plant facade | JPG |