Legendary Bairnsdale motor group, Dwyers is celebrating 125 years of business and 80 years as a Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce member.
Dwyers Motor Group began serving its East Gippsland customers well before the first automobile arrived in Australia and is now regarded as one of the country’s most successful regional automotive businesses with a flagship Toyota dealership and retail outlets for other brands, including Mazda, Hyundai, Chrysler Jeep, Dodge and RAM.
In 1898, Jeremiah Dwyer opened his business in Nicholson Street Bairnsdale, operating as a general blacksmith and farrier. By 1908, Jeremiah’s business grew to building buggies, jinkers, wagons and carts.
Motion gathered pace in 1927 when Dwyers became a franchisee for English car maker, Hillman and Rover. Within the next two years, they became the first car yard to introduce duco spraying, and sold the American cars Rugby and Graham Paige.
Four generations of the Dwyer family have certainly learned the art of keeping the doors open over the last 125 years. During the lean years of the Great Depression, they reverted to a barter system for the local community, with those owing money being able to pay their bills with homegrown fruit, vegetables and chickens.
During World War II, their workshop completed engineering work for the Land Army at the Royal Australian Air Force Bairnsdale base. This period also tragically claimed the life of Jeremiah’s youngest son, Frank, who served in the RAAF.
Today, Anthony Dwyer – whose father handed him the rains in 2009 after an incredible 55 years at the helm – manages the business.
Despite years of evolution, one thing has remained constant since the businesses began – Dwyers’ goal is not just to match but exceed customer expectations every single time. A blueprint for success handed down through the generations.