Rootes Australia
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Fate | Integrated into Chrysler Australia in December 1965 |
| Headquarters | Port Melbourne, Victoria , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
| Products | Automobiles (Hillman, Humber, Singer) |
Rootes Australia served as the Australian branch of the British automobile manufacturer, the Rootes Group.
Established shortly after the conclusion of Second World War, its initial role was importing and distributing vehicles. In 1946, the company commenced local assembly of Hillman Minx cars at Port Melbourne, Victoria, becoming the first British car maker to initiate production within Australia. By 1954, Rootes Australia captured a 5.4% share of the domestic market and intended to develop a comprehensive manufacturing plant on a 35-hectare parcel in Harrisfield (currently Noble Park), near Dandenong, although this facility never materialized.
The firm produced assembled versions of Hillman, Humber, and Singer vehicles, including mixed models combining elements from these marques. Nevertheless, by the mid-1960s, Rootes Group faced challenges due to dwindling sales and an outdated product range in both the UK and Australian markets.
In December 1965, Rootes Australia was integrated into Chrysler Australia. Vehicle assembly persisted at Port Melbourne, with Hillman, Humber, and Commer truck models retailed through Chrysler's distribution network. Chrysler rapidly discontinued Humber models but initiated production of the Hillman Arrow and Hunter series in early 1967. The Port Melbourne facility also produced the Dodge Phoenix starting in 1968 and began assembling Mitsubishi's Galant from 1971 onwards. The final Hillman Hunter was completed in November 1972; subsequently, assembly operations for Dodge Phoenix and Galant transferred to Tonsley Park in South Australia later that year, leading to the closure of the Port Melbourne plant.
Vehicles produced
Significant models assembled by Rootes Australia included:
- Hillman Minx – commencing in 1946
- Humber Super Snipe – beginning in 1953
- Sunbeam Mk III – around 1955
- Sunbeam Alpine – approximately 1955
- Humber Hawk – up to 1964
- Singer Gazelle – from 1957 to 1961
- Hillman Super Minx
- Humber Vogue – between 1962 and 1965
- Hillman Imp – starting in 1964