08/12/2025
Volkswagen established Volkswagen (Australasia) Pty. Ltd 68 years ago on 6 December 1957. Based in Clayton, a suburb of Melbourne, the company was formed to produce Volkswagens with locally sourced components.
In 1958, the Australian Volkswagen subsidiary acquired the stock of the former authorised importer, Volkswagen Distributors Pty. Ltd., which assumed responsibility for service. After Volkswagen Australasia began assembling vehicles from kits in January 1959, production capacity was increased by the construction of new factory buildings.
The acquisition of Allied Iron Founders Pty. Ltd. in 1959 served the same purpose. The company was renamed Volkswagen Manufacturing (Australia) Pty. Ltd. and in 1962, together with Volkswagen Australasia, switched its operations from assembly to production.
The Australian subsidiaries added reconditioning of replacement engines to their portfolio in 1963.
This chapter in VW’s life in Australia is ironic, Many Many years later this same building in Clayton would serve as the assembly point for the Amarok model that was an upgraded version done and badged by the Walkinshaw Group.
Walkinshaw was synonymous in Australian motorsport running the Holden factory team (HRT) from the 90’s all the up to only a few years ago all from this same building.
Coincidently, the Walkinshaw Group moved to new premises only a few months ago and when this and other buildings were demolished a pole mounted neon VW sign was found under past branded signage. Were VW lazy by not pulling the sign down or was it a mark of respect to everything air cooled from another generation.
VW Life SEQ Inc.
Volkswagen Club Of Western Australia - Inc. since 1955
V-Dub Drivers Club of QLD
VW Club Australia
