Charles Plummer's International Harvester Agency traded in Pakenham for many decades. A 1956 article in the Pakenham Gazette reported that after being in Pakenham for a few years, Charles William Plummer took over the Austin agency in 1936. Three years later in 1939 he was appointed the International Harvester Company dealer for the area. (1) However, the advertisement I could find was from December 1943 (2), but that's neither here nor there. The business was originally located in Main Street, Pakenham, but in 1947 moved into a new building in Station Street, on the corner of Henry Street.
Charles had married Queenie Viola Baxter in 1933 and they had two sons, Bruce and Charles (1939-1984). Charles senior died on April 25, 1969, aged 63; and Queenie on October 5, 1989, aged 84. They are buried at the Pakenham Cemetery. (3) The business was later known as Plummer Brothers until it closed around 1983/84. (4)
This is first advertisement I could find in the Pakenham Gazette.
Pakenham Gazette, December 24, 1943, page 3
In 1946 this short report appeared in the Dandenong Journal, foreshadowing the erection of a new building for Mr Plummer's business - The Building Directorate advised that a permit had been issued to C. W. Plummer, Main St., Pakenham East, to erect a factory in Station St. comprising an area not exceeding 4,000 square feet at a cost of £2,500. (5)
New premises for Mr Plummer
Dandenong Journal, July 24, 1946 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214794714
The new premises open
The new factory opened on Monday April 21, 1947 and the Pakenham Gazette (6) had the following report.
The buildings, intended to serve as a showroom and service station for International Harvester Company and McCormick-Deering farm machinery – for which Mr Plummer is the district agent – have a floor space of 4000 square feet and are a decided acquisition to the town.
The building has been made a fire-resistant as possible, the only woodwork being the doors and internal fittings. The framework is of steel on a concrete base and walls and roof are of cement sheets. Of modern design, the building provides the maximum of natural light and ventilation. Offices, spare parts department and workshop have all been carefully planned.
Big as are the buildings, they have been designed to allow for future expansion and accordingly are set back from the street line. At some later date, when building conditions return to normal, it is proposed to add to the southern section a show-room extending along the Station St. frontage.
Opening proceedings, Mr A. Broad, who is block manager for the I.H.C., said from a small beginning Mr Plummer had built up this very fine enterprise. The new building and equipment were necessary to give the farmers more and better service. “I believe that this establishment is something any community might be proud of.” continued Mr Broad. “Apart from provision for selling machinery and equipment it is designed to give any assistance and service which may be required from time to time. Mr Plummer must have wonderful confidence in the future of the district to set up such a building and plant in a small community. Every man he employs is resident in Pakenham and gets his living here. That tends to make for a sound organization within the town.” Mr Broad briefly outlined the afternoon’s programme, which he said would be made a as interesting as possible.
A start was made with a thorough inspection of the premises and plant. Men in charge of the various departments explained in detail the arrangements for supply of spare parts and for servicing farm and orchard equipment and trucks. Interested groups gathered, too, around the tractors, pick-up baler, trucking and various implements on view in the show room.
After a break for afternoon tea, an adjournment was made from the main building to an adjoining machinery shed which had been temporarily converted to use as a picture theatre. By courtesy of the I.H.C. a particularly interesting programme of education films was run through.
“It’s More Than Hay” and “Salute to Agriculture” showed many phases of primary production and left no room for doubt as to the important contribution the man on the land is making to the national well being. An interesting sidelight was the evidence of how modern power machinery has increased the farmer’s efficiency and lightened his labors.
Perhaps the most striking of the three films was “Under Western Skies,” depicting stages in the battle against soil erosion. Although the scenes shown had an American setting, the lessons they taught were just as applicable to Australia, for this problem of soil erosion is practically worldwide. Various preventative measure were illustrated – such as conservation of belts of timber and scrub, steps to prevent over stocking, special grasses for binding the soil together, plowing in of stubble, etc – but the most striking feature shown in the anti-erosion campaign was the move for contour or “round the hill” farming, with alternating belts of different crops and grass land, to check soil drift.
Altogether the afternoon was very instructive as well as enjoyable and many a hearty “Thank you” was tendered to Mr Plummer before they dispersed.
Congratulatory Speeches at Dinner
At night Mr Plummer entertained members of his staff and representatives of the I.H.C., the district residents and the builders at a dinner at Kennedy’s Hotel.
In proposing a toast to Mr Plummer, Mr W.W. Killough, manager of sales in Australia and a director of the I.H.C. said it was very fitting that the opening of Mr Plummer’s new service station should coincide with the commencement of buildings for the manufacture of trucks and tractors in Australia.
Supporting the toast, Mr J.J. Ahern congratulated Mr Plummer on his enterprise in bringing an up to date and efficient service to the front door of the farming community.
Mr G. Fitzwater, Deputy Controller of tractors in Victoria, referred to his early recollections of the Swamp area to the south of Pakenham, and spoke of the marked progress the district had made following the installation of the drainage system.
Responding to the toast, Mr Plummer thanked the various speakers for their kind remarks, and voiced appreciation of the good wishes tendered him in a budget [sic] of telegrams. He also took the opportunity to pay a tribute to his staff. He expressed supreme confidence in the future development of Pakenham district, and in this connection he mentioned a project in which he was particularly interested – the proposed establishment of a Consolidated school.
Following the dinner, the party adjourned back to the service station for supper.
200 Residents at Official Opening of new I.H.C. Service Station
Fully 200 people, drawn from all parts of the district, accepted the invitation of Mr C.W. Plummer, of Pakenham, to be present last Monday at an informal afternoon which marked the official opening of his new business premises at the corner of Station and Henry Streets. The buildings, intended to serve as a showroom and service station for International Harvester Company and McCormick-Deering farm machinery – for which Mr Plummer is the district agent – have a floor space of 4000 square feet and are a decided acquisition to the town.
The building has been made a fire-resistant as possible, the only woodwork being the doors and internal fittings. The framework is of steel on a concrete base and walls and roof are of cement sheets. Of modern design, the building provides the maximum of natural light and ventilation. Offices, spare parts department and workshop have all been carefully planned.
Big as are the buildings, they have been designed to allow for future expansion and accordingly are set back from the street line. At some later date, when building conditions return to normal, it is proposed to add to the southern section a show-room extending along the Station St. frontage.
Opening proceedings, Mr A. Broad, who is block manager for the I.H.C., said from a small beginning Mr Plummer had built up this very fine enterprise. The new building and equipment were necessary to give the farmers more and better service. “I believe that this establishment is something any community might be proud of.” continued Mr Broad. “Apart from provision for selling machinery and equipment it is designed to give any assistance and service which may be required from time to time. Mr Plummer must have wonderful confidence in the future of the district to set up such a building and plant in a small community. Every man he employs is resident in Pakenham and gets his living here. That tends to make for a sound organization within the town.” Mr Broad briefly outlined the afternoon’s programme, which he said would be made a as interesting as possible.
A start was made with a thorough inspection of the premises and plant. Men in charge of the various departments explained in detail the arrangements for supply of spare parts and for servicing farm and orchard equipment and trucks. Interested groups gathered, too, around the tractors, pick-up baler, trucking and various implements on view in the show room.
After a break for afternoon tea, an adjournment was made from the main building to an adjoining machinery shed which had been temporarily converted to use as a picture theatre. By courtesy of the I.H.C. a particularly interesting programme of education films was run through.
“It’s More Than Hay” and “Salute to Agriculture” showed many phases of primary production and left no room for doubt as to the important contribution the man on the land is making to the national well being. An interesting sidelight was the evidence of how modern power machinery has increased the farmer’s efficiency and lightened his labors.
Perhaps the most striking of the three films was “Under Western Skies,” depicting stages in the battle against soil erosion. Although the scenes shown had an American setting, the lessons they taught were just as applicable to Australia, for this problem of soil erosion is practically worldwide. Various preventative measure were illustrated – such as conservation of belts of timber and scrub, steps to prevent over stocking, special grasses for binding the soil together, plowing in of stubble, etc – but the most striking feature shown in the anti-erosion campaign was the move for contour or “round the hill” farming, with alternating belts of different crops and grass land, to check soil drift.
Altogether the afternoon was very instructive as well as enjoyable and many a hearty “Thank you” was tendered to Mr Plummer before they dispersed.
Congratulatory Speeches at Dinner
At night Mr Plummer entertained members of his staff and representatives of the I.H.C., the district residents and the builders at a dinner at Kennedy’s Hotel.
In proposing a toast to Mr Plummer, Mr W.W. Killough, manager of sales in Australia and a director of the I.H.C. said it was very fitting that the opening of Mr Plummer’s new service station should coincide with the commencement of buildings for the manufacture of trucks and tractors in Australia.
Supporting the toast, Mr J.J. Ahern congratulated Mr Plummer on his enterprise in bringing an up to date and efficient service to the front door of the farming community.
Mr G. Fitzwater, Deputy Controller of tractors in Victoria, referred to his early recollections of the Swamp area to the south of Pakenham, and spoke of the marked progress the district had made following the installation of the drainage system.
Responding to the toast, Mr Plummer thanked the various speakers for their kind remarks, and voiced appreciation of the good wishes tendered him in a budget [sic] of telegrams. He also took the opportunity to pay a tribute to his staff. He expressed supreme confidence in the future development of Pakenham district, and in this connection he mentioned a project in which he was particularly interested – the proposed establishment of a Consolidated school.
Following the dinner, the party adjourned back to the service station for supper.
(Pakenham Gazette, April 25, 1947, p.7)
A £3,850 extension
In 1949, Mr Plummer was granted a permit for the erection of the front section of his spacious showrooms, offices, etc., in Station St., at a cost of £3,850. (7)
Mr Plummer's new showrooms
Dandenong Journal, March 2 1949 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222209146
Some good advice from Mr Plummer
Pakenham Gazette, September 30, 1949, p.3
Employees of Mr C.W. Plummer, motor and general engineer, in 1952.
Weekly Times, January 16, 1952 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224023172
Museums Victoria photographs
There are photographs of Mr Plummer's business on the Museums Victoria website. The photos are part of the International Harvester Company collection of material relating to the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries. They were taken on April 24, 1947, just after it was opened. If you are searching for the photos then you will need to spell Pakenham incorrectly as Packenham, as that is the way they were catalogued.
C.W. Plummer International Harvester Agency, Pakenham, April 24, 1947.
Image: Museums Victoria https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/1469858
C.W. Plummer International Harvester Agency, Pakenham, April 24, 1947.
Image: Museums Victoria https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/1469859
C.W. Plummer International Harvester Agency, Pakenham, April 24, 1947.
Image: Museums Victoria https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/1469860
C.W. Plummer International Harvester Agency, Pakenham, April 24, 1947.
Image: Museums Victoria https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/1469861
C.W. Plummer International Harvester Agency, Pakenham, April 24, 1947.
Image: Museums Victoria https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/1469862
C.W. Plummer International Harvester Agency, Pakenham, April 24, 1947.
Image: Museums Victoria https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/1469863
Footnotes
(1) Pakenham Gazette, January 13, 1956, p.1
(2) Pakenham Gazette, December 24, 1943, p. 3
(3) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and marriages; head stone photos here - http://www.ozgenonline.com/%7Eaustralian_cemeteries/vic/cardinia/pakenham.htm
(4) Date of closure - On January 3, 2018, I posted a photo of the business on the Casey Cardinia Heritage Facebook page. There were two comments from Dave Whitty - Sadly I was the last mechanic standing 3 year into my apprenticeship and Sadly, l think it was about 1983 /84 when it closed. In response Pete Atkins wrote - Mick's Atkinson was an 84 model, would have been one of the last Charlie sold I would think; to which Dave Whitty replied - That sounds about right.
The closure coincided with the death of Charles Plummer, junior on March 29, 1984, aged 44; he is buried at the Pakenham Cemetery.
(5) Dandenong Journal, July 24, 1946, see here.
(6) Pakenham Gazette, April 25, 1947, p.7
(7) Dandenong Journal, March 2 1949, see here.
This is a revised and expanded version of a post which I wrote for my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to Our Past
