AGY-5789 | Government Motor Garage (1912-1977) / Government Motor Services (1978-1992)

Full description

The Government Motor Garage was established in 1912 to provide servicing, repairs and maintenance for vehicles and other motorized machines owned by State Government Departments. (1)

On 28 May 1943 the Government Motor Garage, located at Bay Street, Glebe, was transferred to the administration of the Department of Public Works. It 'continued to undertake the servicing, maintenance and repair of the majority of motor cars, lorries and motor cycles attached to the various Government Departments (excluding corporate bodies)'. (2)

In 1950 the Garage employed 124 staff and undertook repair and service work on vehicles belonging to the Departments of Agriculture, Chief Secretary, Health, Lands, Public Works, Police and the Premier. It also undertook specialised work such as design and construction of police patrol vans. (3)

In 1977 the Government Motor Garage operated as a trading undertaking. The services it provided were:
repairs to departmental motor vehicles, including cars, trucks, utilities, trailers, caravans, motor cyles, cultivators, marine engines, outboards and other mechanical equipment;
body building and repairs to motor vehicle bodies, including design and construction of special bodies for the Police Department. Alterations were carried out to stock models for other departments;
the fitting of radio equipment, sirens and identification signs to Police cars, vans and solo cycles;
repairs to privately owned motor vehicles insured with the Government Insurance Office of New South Wales;
a lubrication and petrol bowser service, steam cleaning, car washing, polishing and a towing and breakdown service;
accounting operations, costing, purchasing and banking were carried out within the undertaking. (4)

In 1979 the Government Motor Services operated as a trading undertaking which reported to the Assistant Director, Management of the Department of Public Works. It included three workshops:
the Car and Truck Repair Shop where mechanical and electrical repairs were effected to cars, trucks, buses, tractors, launch engines, and where fitting and machining was undertaken;
the Cycle Repair Shop, where police motor cycles, outboard motors, lawn mowers and other light machines were repaired; and
the Body Repair Shop where police patrol van bodies and trailers were built, alterations were made to standard motor bodies for specific purposes and repairs were carried out to damaged vehicles covered by insurance. (5)

Government Motor Services was still a trading undertaking in 1986 when it reported to the First Assistant Director of the Department of Public Works. (6)

In 1987 it was part of the Commercial Operations Division of the Department of Public Works. The Government Motor Services provided a comprehensive range of mechanical and body repairs from its workshop at Glebe and its new workshops at Parramatta (1986) and its On-site Depots. In 1987 there were also mobile service vans in operation from the Parramatta Workshop. (7)

By 30 June 1988 Government Motor Services was transferred from the Department of Public Works to the Department of Administrative Services. (8) It became part of the Commercial Services Group where commercialisation was undertaken. It ceased to exist as a separate government agency on 29 May 1992. (9)

References
New South Wales Government Directory, 1988-1992
Report of the Department of Public Works for the year ended 30th June, 1945-1985.
Public Works Department New South Wales, Annual Report, 1985-86-1988-89.

Endnotes
1. New South Wales Government Directory, January 1992 (12th ed.), p.32; Report of the Department of Public Works for the year ended 30 June 1977, p.61; NSW Parlimentary Papers, 1976-77-78. Vol. 10, p.1061.
2. Report of the Department of Public Works for the year ended 30th June, 1945, p.8 [NUA 197, not printed in Parliamentary Papers].
3. Report of the Department of Public Works for the year ended 30th June, 1950, p.56; NSW Parliamentary Papers, 1950-51-52. Vol. 4, p.226.
4. Report of the Department of Public Works for the year ended 30 June 1976, p.61; NSW Parliamentary Papers, 1976-77-78. Vol. 10, p.1061.
5. Report of the Department of Public Works for the year ended 30 June 1979, pp.82, 84.
6. Public Works Department New South Wales, Annual Report, 1985-1986, p.10.
7. Public Works Department New South Wales, Annual Report, 1986-1987, pp. 9, 17.
8. Public Works Department New South Wales, Annual Report, 1987-1988, p.8.
9. New South Wales Government Directory, Second edition, 1992 (13th ed.), p.36; Commercial Services Group Annual Report 1991-1992, p.22.