The age of “manufacturing’ in Australia as we knew it

The age of “manufacturing’ in Australia as we knew it, heavily reliant on low skilled and low paid workers has truly passed and will not be seen again. 

My parents immigrated to Australia in 1955 and made this country their new home. In 1969 they bought a Milk Bar in Huntingdale, a small industrial suburb in Melbourne’s South East. As a nine-year-old I was mesmerised by the ‘hoard’ of workers making their way to the factories each morning. They looked like soldiers on their way to battle, marching 3 deep down the street.

“The industrial revolution has come and gone, we are now in the age of technology and automation and this is where large-scale mass production should be looking at to compete.”

We had factories like Ogden Industries, which had iconic Australian brands like, ‘Lockwood’, ‘Kelso’ (wheelbarrows and tools) and Ogden mowers. There was Namco, (pots), Sutex, (socks) and Glomesh all within a short distance. There were a plethora of small local engineering workshops that survived of the needs of the larger manufacturers.

The industrial revolution has come and gone, we are now in the age of technology and automation and this is where large-scale mass production should be looking at to compete.

However, the best manufacturing will happen on a smaller scale with mum and dad businesses and small to medium enterprises.

Just Aussie Made is here to champion these smaller businesses and help showcase their name and product to the Australian people.

If you are or know of such enterprises we would love to hear from you.

We are looking for genuine Australian owned and made producers in the following categories:

• Habitat and Lifestyle

• Fashion and Footwear

• Trinkets and Ornaments (Jewellery)

• Health and Beauty

• Kids Stuff – Toys educational

• Critter comforts – Pets

• Gastronomic delights – Food and beverage

• Gifts and stuff