MACAULAY MOTORS HISTORY
The company was incorporated on 22nd November 1935 and on 4th December commenced operations in Invercargill by purchasing the assets of the old established firm of G W Woods & Company who had been the Ford dealers in Southland since early in the century.
The garage was at the rear of what is now Waxy O'Shea's. With access down an alleyway. Almost immediately the major problem was congested floor space and within 12 months investigations were being made for larger premises. As a temporary additional premises were leased for a vehicle bulk store and a used car reconditioning department. World War II delayed the expansion plans but the bulk store was retained and during the war was sublet for the storage of wool.
The garage was at the rear of what is now Waxy O'Shea's. With access down an alleyway. Almost immediately the major problem was congested floor space and within 12 months investigations were being made for larger premises. As a temporary additional premises were leased for a vehicle bulk store and a used car reconditioning department. World War II delayed the expansion plans but the bulk store was retained and during the war was sublet for the storage of wool.
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In 1942 the main premises, now Spotlight was purchased from the Ward Estate plus a block of buildings fronting Dee Street now Waxy O'Shea's. Then followed a complete redesigning of the premises. War time building restrictions and existing tenancies delayed immediate building alterations but soon steady progress was made. Originally a livery and bait stables, the Dee Street premises was seriously damaged by fire in 1915. During the course of the blaze the roof collapsed and a new roof was built on the existing walls.
In 1956 at a cost of over 20,000 pounds the we built new showrooms, offices, a parts and accessories division and staff facilities. During the course of demolishing the old offices there were still signs of the 1915 fire visible on the roof beams.
Earlier in 1954 five houses an area of 3/5 of an acre were purchased further north at Avenal. The residences were demolished to permit the erection of a modern lube bay, truck servicing and tractor departments on the east side of Dee Street.
These additions still proved inadequate and in 1962 a further quarter acre section opposite was acquired. This provided a modern new car pre-delivery section, a truck and tractor parts department, truck servicing shop and used car department. This new area began operations in 1964 leaving the central city site as purely new car sales with servicing and a parts department.
Successively over the years the dealership acquired more property bordering Fox Street and Liffey Streets. The old dairy on the corner was demolished along with several houses to make way for a new workshop. The finale of the centralisation of the Avenal sites was agreed in 1977 following the recession in the motor industry, with the decision to centralise all parts and workshop operations at Avenal. This meant that Macaulay Motors for the first time in some 20 years had all of its facilities in the one area.
The site has undergone many changes and significant expansion since the late 70's.The original Avenal site now Avenal Park Funeral Home and Riverside Rentals, was sold and tractors moved to what now is Agricentre South Kubota branch in the early 80's.
With a great deal of our clients in the Queenstown area a Service operation was opened in 1990. With the significant growth seen in the Wakatipu area over the last 20 years we have a full Ford and Mazda dealership with parts, service, new and used vehicle sales in the Frankton Industrial Estate.
In April 2004 Macaulay Motors took over the Mazda Franchise for Southland. A new showroom was built on our current site at Avenal to accommodate the Mazda brand and this opened in 2006. In 2005 two properties directly opposite on Fox Street were purchased which is now our parking area for all new and used vehicles.
In 2008 the Pizza Hut property was purchased on the North West corner of Dee and Fox Streets, the building was demolished and our used commercial and budget car yards now occupy this area.
In 2017 we commenced an extensive renovation to the Invercargill site, with significant upgrades to our workshop and the addition of a customer business centre. Keep an eye out for an announcement coming soon regarding an exciting new future for our Queenstown branch
In 1956 at a cost of over 20,000 pounds the we built new showrooms, offices, a parts and accessories division and staff facilities. During the course of demolishing the old offices there were still signs of the 1915 fire visible on the roof beams.
Earlier in 1954 five houses an area of 3/5 of an acre were purchased further north at Avenal. The residences were demolished to permit the erection of a modern lube bay, truck servicing and tractor departments on the east side of Dee Street.
These additions still proved inadequate and in 1962 a further quarter acre section opposite was acquired. This provided a modern new car pre-delivery section, a truck and tractor parts department, truck servicing shop and used car department. This new area began operations in 1964 leaving the central city site as purely new car sales with servicing and a parts department.
Successively over the years the dealership acquired more property bordering Fox Street and Liffey Streets. The old dairy on the corner was demolished along with several houses to make way for a new workshop. The finale of the centralisation of the Avenal sites was agreed in 1977 following the recession in the motor industry, with the decision to centralise all parts and workshop operations at Avenal. This meant that Macaulay Motors for the first time in some 20 years had all of its facilities in the one area.
The site has undergone many changes and significant expansion since the late 70's.The original Avenal site now Avenal Park Funeral Home and Riverside Rentals, was sold and tractors moved to what now is Agricentre South Kubota branch in the early 80's.
With a great deal of our clients in the Queenstown area a Service operation was opened in 1990. With the significant growth seen in the Wakatipu area over the last 20 years we have a full Ford and Mazda dealership with parts, service, new and used vehicle sales in the Frankton Industrial Estate.
In April 2004 Macaulay Motors took over the Mazda Franchise for Southland. A new showroom was built on our current site at Avenal to accommodate the Mazda brand and this opened in 2006. In 2005 two properties directly opposite on Fox Street were purchased which is now our parking area for all new and used vehicles.
In 2008 the Pizza Hut property was purchased on the North West corner of Dee and Fox Streets, the building was demolished and our used commercial and budget car yards now occupy this area.
In 2017 we commenced an extensive renovation to the Invercargill site, with significant upgrades to our workshop and the addition of a customer business centre. Keep an eye out for an announcement coming soon regarding an exciting new future for our Queenstown branch
MEET THE TEAM AT MACAULAY MOTORS
CEO
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Grant is a fourth generation Southlander and has worked at Macaulay Motors
since he left school and started as an apprentice mechanic. Once he qualified in his technician role he moved into sales, then sales management. In 1998 Grant was appointed Dealer Principal and CEO, the youngest dealer in the Ford network at the time. On the 1 July 2018 Grant promoted long time employee Tim Rabbitte to the Dealer Principal role. Grant remains on as CEO and along with supporting Tim, he manages other businesses in our group. Outside work, Grant is extremely passionate about farming and agriculture and runs his own small farm on the outskirts of Invercargill. |
dealer principal
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Tim joined Macaulay Motors straight from school and progressed through the
sales side of the business in various roles before being appointed to Dealer Principal on the 1 July 2018. Tim is very proud to represent Ford and Mazda brands and build on the success of the business built by CEO, Grant Price. When not at work, Tim has a young family along with a small farm that keeps him busy. |
new mazda
used vehicles
parts
service
finance
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