Made in Wonthaggi: a display at the Wonthaggi Museum of locally made spades, shovels, axes, tomahawks, screwdrivers, socket sets and spanners.
By Catherine Watson
THE closure of Cyclone’s Wonthaggi factory in October is the story of Australian manufacturing writ small. A factory that once employed hundreds of people has finally succumbed to the economic pressures that have claimed so many local manufacturers before it.
The wonder is not that it is closing but that it lasted as long as it did.
The sound of the factory – the Bang! Bang! Bang! of the drop forge – was part of the Wonthaggi soundscape for decades, as familiar as the mine hooter and the warning alarm as the train crossed the South Dudley Road heading into town.
THE closure of Cyclone’s Wonthaggi factory in October is the story of Australian manufacturing writ small. A factory that once employed hundreds of people has finally succumbed to the economic pressures that have claimed so many local manufacturers before it.
The wonder is not that it is closing but that it lasted as long as it did.
The sound of the factory – the Bang! Bang! Bang! of the drop forge – was part of the Wonthaggi soundscape for decades, as familiar as the mine hooter and the warning alarm as the train crossed the South Dudley Road heading into town.
For 76 years, Cyclone helped shape Wonthaggi and offered a future beyond coal. It provided livelihoods for generations of local families and proved that significant manufacturing could succeed in a regional town.
The story is also uniquely Wonthaggi's. The factory was established in 1950 as the town faced an uncertain future. The State Coal Mine was expected to wind down and governments were searching for ways to create alternative employment. Cyclone was one of the first major industrial ventures designed to help the town stand on its own feet.
Hundreds of local people passed through its gates over the decades. Fathers worked there, followed by sons and daughters. At its peak in the 1980s, around 200 people were employed on the sprawling Korumburra Road site that stretched from what is now Dan Murphy's to the retail stores on McKenzie Street.
The State Coal Mine continued operating until 1968, but by then more people were employed at Cyclone than in the mines themselves. The factory would survive for 57 years after the mine closed.
The story is also uniquely Wonthaggi's. The factory was established in 1950 as the town faced an uncertain future. The State Coal Mine was expected to wind down and governments were searching for ways to create alternative employment. Cyclone was one of the first major industrial ventures designed to help the town stand on its own feet.
Hundreds of local people passed through its gates over the decades. Fathers worked there, followed by sons and daughters. At its peak in the 1980s, around 200 people were employed on the sprawling Korumburra Road site that stretched from what is now Dan Murphy's to the retail stores on McKenzie Street.
The State Coal Mine continued operating until 1968, but by then more people were employed at Cyclone than in the mines themselves. The factory would survive for 57 years after the mine closed.
The new Cyclone factory, 1950. It was largely recycled from No. 18 Mine Shaft.
Historical photos: Wonthaggi & District Historical Society
Historical photos: Wonthaggi & District Historical Society
In a letter written in 1960 to local historian Arthur Quilford, Cyclone Forgings explained how the company came to Wonthaggi. Facing labour shortages in Melbourne, the company was encouraged by the State Decentralisation Committee to consider establishing a regional operation.
The prospect of coal mine closures and abundant labour made Wonthaggi an attractive choice. Disused buildings from No.18 Shaft were dismantled and re-erected on a two-acre site beside the railway station. Lou Gray, an experienced drop-forging specialist from Melbourne, was appointed manager and a workforce of 40 men began producing Cyclone hammers.
Within a few years the factory was expanding rapidly. The floor area doubled in 1954. New forging hammers were installed. Employment climbed to 100 and an amenities block and canteen were built. By 1960, capital investment in the Wonthaggi operation exceeded £300,000.
Wonthaggi was the only Cyclone factory in which women were employed, working on drilling, polishing, lacquering and packing.
The prospect of coal mine closures and abundant labour made Wonthaggi an attractive choice. Disused buildings from No.18 Shaft were dismantled and re-erected on a two-acre site beside the railway station. Lou Gray, an experienced drop-forging specialist from Melbourne, was appointed manager and a workforce of 40 men began producing Cyclone hammers.
Within a few years the factory was expanding rapidly. The floor area doubled in 1954. New forging hammers were installed. Employment climbed to 100 and an amenities block and canteen were built. By 1960, capital investment in the Wonthaggi operation exceeded £300,000.
Wonthaggi was the only Cyclone factory in which women were employed, working on drilling, polishing, lacquering and packing.
Cyclone Forgings Workshop staff, 1956. Staff names were identified by Gladys Birt (nee Williamson).
The factory's construction reflected the resourcefulness of the men who had learned their trades in the State Coal Mine
Writing in the Sentinel Times in 1988, journalist Tom Gannon described how local carpenter Ern Eastern and legendary local “fixer” Fred Webb erected the factory using buildings salvaged from the coal mines. Materials were scarce in the post-war period, Gannon wrote:
“Nails were hard to come by. Reinforcement for cement was unavailable.
“So 2½-inch steel cable from the closed eastern area coal mine had to be unstranded to 5/8 of an inch.
“Mobile cranes and cherry pickers had not then been developed so heavy cross members of the building had to be re-erected by heavy block and tackle and a hand crab winch. This work was done by State Coal Mines men accustomed to erecting mine poppet legs.
“Cement was in such short supply that, quite illegally, Fred Webb got San Remo fishermen to bring tons of the precious material from Tasmania.
Writing in the Sentinel Times in 1988, journalist Tom Gannon described how local carpenter Ern Eastern and legendary local “fixer” Fred Webb erected the factory using buildings salvaged from the coal mines. Materials were scarce in the post-war period, Gannon wrote:
“Nails were hard to come by. Reinforcement for cement was unavailable.
“So 2½-inch steel cable from the closed eastern area coal mine had to be unstranded to 5/8 of an inch.
“Mobile cranes and cherry pickers had not then been developed so heavy cross members of the building had to be re-erected by heavy block and tackle and a hand crab winch. This work was done by State Coal Mines men accustomed to erecting mine poppet legs.
“Cement was in such short supply that, quite illegally, Fred Webb got San Remo fishermen to bring tons of the precious material from Tasmania.
“He was questioned by federal authorities for breaching regulations, but nothing eventuated … except a factory which first manager Lou Gray, now retired at Wonthaggi, says was ‘pretty iffy at the start’.” |
The factory opened in October 1950 with just 15 staff. This was intended to be a modest operation. Instead, it kept growing. Partnerships with overseas manufacturers expanded the product range. A major turning point came in the early 1970s when Cyclone closed its Melbourne operation and transferred work to Wonthaggi.
"Orders flooded in overnight," Gray recalled. "Wonthaggi was doubled in factory size."
The factory diversified into custom forgings for the automotive industry and the State Electricity Commission. For many years it was one of the town's largest and most stable employers.
"Orders flooded in overnight," Gray recalled. "Wonthaggi was doubled in factory size."
The factory diversified into custom forgings for the automotive industry and the State Electricity Commission. For many years it was one of the town's largest and most stable employers.
Workers – and the town – took enormous pride in the quality of what they produced, and the feeling was mutual. |
Mr L J Smith presenting a cup to Wonthaggi Cyclone Social Club for annual competition in
General Sports, 1957.
General Sports, 1957.
The tools produced there became part of Australian households and workplaces. Shovels, spades, axes, tomahawks, hammers, screwdrivers and socket sets left the Wonthaggi factory carrying the proud "Made in Australia" mark.
Workers – and the town – took enormous pride in the quality of what they produced, and the feeling was mutual.
In 1988 Cyclone bought out Trojan and the factory expanded again. Cyclone’s general manager, Greg Lewis, told Tom Gannon he loved visiting Wonthaggi because of the affection local people felt for the factory. "It is good to have a personal stake," he said. "I like that."
The decline began at the turn of the century. As cheap Chinese-made tools began to flood the Australian market, Cyclone increasingly relied on its reputation for quality of the Australian-made tools.
Workers – and the town – took enormous pride in the quality of what they produced, and the feeling was mutual.
In 1988 Cyclone bought out Trojan and the factory expanded again. Cyclone’s general manager, Greg Lewis, told Tom Gannon he loved visiting Wonthaggi because of the affection local people felt for the factory. "It is good to have a personal stake," he said. "I like that."
The decline began at the turn of the century. As cheap Chinese-made tools began to flood the Australian market, Cyclone increasingly relied on its reputation for quality of the Australian-made tools.
There were difficult periods when closure seemed likely, but somehow the factory survived while many others disappeared. This time there is no way back. Announcing the closure, a spokesperson for parent company Ames Australia said "This decision was not taken lightly and reflects the sustained economic pressures facing local manufacturing in Australia."
Ames said all 16 remaining Wonthaggi employees have been notified and will be offered support.
The closure won't hurt Wonthaggi as much as it would have in the 1980s, when 200 jobs depended on it. Most of the current workforce are approaching retirement age and Wonthaggi's economy is far more diverse than it was three generations ago.
Seventy-six years after it started, the factory that helped to cushion Wonthaggi from the decline of coal mining has itself become a casualty of market forces of another era.
The wonder is not that Cyclone factory is closing now but that it lasted this long. It marks the end of a remarkable 75-year run.
Thanks to the always helpful team at the Wonthaggi Museum for sourcing information and photos for this story at short notice.
Ames said all 16 remaining Wonthaggi employees have been notified and will be offered support.
The closure won't hurt Wonthaggi as much as it would have in the 1980s, when 200 jobs depended on it. Most of the current workforce are approaching retirement age and Wonthaggi's economy is far more diverse than it was three generations ago.
Seventy-six years after it started, the factory that helped to cushion Wonthaggi from the decline of coal mining has itself become a casualty of market forces of another era.
The wonder is not that Cyclone factory is closing now but that it lasted this long. It marks the end of a remarkable 75-year run.
Thanks to the always helpful team at the Wonthaggi Museum for sourcing information and photos for this story at short notice.