Goodyear Aussie operation marking anniversary

MELBOURNE, Australia (Feb. 1, 2016) — Goodyear's Australian subsidiary is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

Goodyear Australia traces its history back to “the humble beginnings of a small Sydney office in 1915.” The company established a national presence with distribution arrangements in most capital cities, then — to meet demand — established a local manufacturing plant in Sydney where in 1927 Goodyear produced its first Australian-made tire.

By 1930, according to the company, “depots were set up in Newcastle, Goulburn, Tamworth and Lismore (NSW), Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong (VIC); and Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns (QLD).”

By 1932, it had manufactured 1 million tires and by 1951 that production soared to 10 million tires.

During World War II, Goodyear's Australian operations serviced tire needs of aircraft, trucks, jeeps and motorcycles and, by the turn of the century, “the iconic Goodyear Blimp flew Australian skies for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games,” the company said.

Goodyear phased out tire production in Australia in 2008, closing its last factory there, in Somerton.

The Australia operations now include thousands of associates, distributors and retailers according to the firm. It noted that “Goodyear's century-long family of distributors and stockists have been fundamental to success.

From its first store in Melbourne (1915), there are now numerous tire retailers flying the Goodyear flag, in particular the brand's primary retail network, Goodyear Autocare.”

Goodyear added that “its visionary mindset looks to the next 100 years, with the best yet to come.”

The company did not specify any special celebrations of the anniversary at this time.