OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum The Old Soap Box THEBARTON FACTORY - Then and Now

Hi to All,
After doing some more research I have found the following information:

* Electrolux, a Swedish company acquired a share capital of Scott Bonnar Ltd in 1970,
presumably to gain access to a widespread dealer network to sell their Flymo mowers in the region.

* In 1973, the New Zealand company, Challenge Corporation Ltd, acquired the company.
Hence the connection with Morrison Mowers.

* In 1980, Scott Bonnar was taken over completely by Rover Mowers (Aust) Pty Ltd, based in Brisbane.
The company name was then changed to Rover-Scott Bonnar Ltd.

*In 1983, the Thebarton factory of Scott Bonnar Ltd in South Australia was closed and production was
now to be centred in Brisbane.

Interesting stuff Deejay,
If you have an address for the Thebarton site I'll see if it is still there, as I get around town a bit in the truck of late.
I dont expect there would be any "Scott Bonnar" remains there as Australian Manafacturing has been un-PC for at least 30 years and most sites here have been built on (town houses with no lawn now)....But you never know.....

Hi Fast Grass, the address was 33-47 Holland Street, Thebarton, South Australia, 5031
Don't forget to get some pics if it is still there, mate, it would be great for the history archive. I can scan one old pic here of the factory in its heyday.

Just google earthed it to get my bearings...Just behind the West End brewery. I'm sure the Scott Bonnar worker's would have blew the froth off a few West Ends after work!

It looks like there are some old buildings there from the Scott bonnar days still. I'll take the camera in the truck and take some happy snaps for you. I'll do some door knocking if I have the time & see if I can get any internal Scott bonner leftover shots as well. I dont think there would be much to recognize internally though..maybe if you can put the scanned image up I know where to start for the best comaparison shot. (if I dont get stuck at the brewery bar ! )

Hi Daryl I did some google mapping on that address here are the pictures that I found.I think it may have changed since them days.I couldn't find 47 I wonder if that coner street was there then.

This is number 37

This is 39

This is 41

This is 43


and this is a block view.I don't think it looks the same as it did.Can't see anything Scott Bonnar ish there at all.

Thanks Jeffrey, wow things have changed a bit since SB was there mate, Here's a pic of Holland St....the suburb name must have changed also, this advert says Southwark....

Hmm I don't know if it is the same building it does look the same shape but doesn't quite look the same.
Here is a corner view.

mmmm I'll have a look on thursday Mr. Blumbly. I was going by the central main entrance with the ribbed vertical masonary and it's window layout. Dejay's photo gives a hint of the two vertical features on the corner in your last photo (the side with the landrover in pic), allowing for some heritage listing issues they may have had, by the looks (to me anyway), that they have extended the building along that street in the same 30's art Deco fashion. (city planner's like you doing that sort of thing down here i.e. our way or the highway)

Well Scott Bonnar fans all is not lost! I spent some time having a walk around the block to stretch the legs, grabbed a coffee (and got short changed! mutter! mutter!) The factory site is now mostly a fish mongery filled with cold rooms, you can still see the electrical bus wire for the over head cranes and some old P.A speakers for internal coms. of the "old" days.

Basically I'd say it's like most other industrial workshops/factories of that vintage.

However it seems there has been some high level recognition of the plight of Scott Bonnar owners by a group of 8 member, of the Australian "sand stone" Universities.

I'm sure all Scott Bonnar owners may find this some comfort, that the University of Adelaide has taken up the vacuum of knowledge after the Scott Bonnar exit and offers some hope to the plight of all Scott Bonnar owners and lovers every where, and has set up a centre to help, just across the road....LMFAO....







It brought a tear to my eye it did!
John...

Hi Guy's,

This is what's left of inside the Scott Bonnar Maternity Ward, basically some cold rooms as previously mentioned and not much else.



Just to think that's where most of our 45's and many others were conceived and born

Cheers,
BB

this is the office at the bottom of the screen, with the machine shop behind..Brian Osborne was the foreman

the building at no 39 Holland St was the brass shop..nothing to do with lawnmowers tho..Scott Bonnar also manufactured quite a range of brass taps and such, the brand name of the brassware is Esbe.