Australia's oldest Toyota dealer celebrates 75 years

When they asked their real estate agent about other available businesses, Albion Motors caught their attention.

The partnership took over Albion Motors in June 1950, selling Grey Ferguson tractors and Standard Vanguard cars under the Australia Motors Industries flag.

The business partners became involved in the local community and steadily built up their enterprise.

After 10 years, Dick wanted to introduce his eldest son, Richard, into the business, so he decided to buy out his partner on very good terms and continue with his son.

“My grandfather was dealer principal for 18 years, I believe, then my father was dealer principal for 36 years and I've been dealer principal for 21 years,” Albion Motor dealer principal Ian Isaac said.

In 1968, Richard became the dealer principal and experimented with various brands, including Fiat tractors, Triumph cars and Mercedes.

Under AMI, they heard about a Japanese company called Toyota that had developed a good reputation.

“We got Toyota when they came out, this was before I was born of course, but in 1960, ’61, when Toyota first came out,” Ian said.

“It was a pretty hard sell back then, because thinking about it, in 1960, it is not too far away from, after the war.

“So Japanese was still on the nose for a lot of people.”

This decision proved to be the start of something special.

Over time, they opted to focus exclusively on Toyota and Massey Ferguson.

Richard was rewarded with the great honour of representing Australian Toyota dealers on the Dealer Council.

Richard also served as mayor of Kyabram and took on numerous volunteer roles in the town.

“My father was the mayor of the town, actually, before it was a shire,” Ian said.

“He was mayor for four years, and really enjoyed doing that.”

In 1988, Richard’s son, and third-generation family member, Ian, joined the dealership.

Ian took the reins as dealer principal in 2005 after Richard’s 36 years in the top job.

“I became the dealer principal in 2005,” Ian said.

“It is good to keep it in the family, keep the family history going.”

With dwindling numbers of dairy farmers in the region, Ian decided to finish with Massey Ferguson, a decision that was not taken lightly, to concentrate on Toyota as one of the few privately owned single-franchise dealers.

Today, Albion Motors sits proudly as Toyota Australia's oldest dealer.

“We are in our 75th year now,” Ian said.

“There are a lot of old Toyota dealers, but because we have never changed the company, in Toyota's eyes, we are the oldest.”

The dealership currently employs 13 staff, including two apprentices.

Half of the staff have worked there for over 15 years and are considered very much part of the family.

“We are big sponsors of a lot of sporting clubs,” Ian said.

“The Ky footy club is the main one.

“We have been sponsoring them for over 20 years.”

The business has built strong customer loyalty over the decades.

Ian highlighted one particularly loyal customer.

“I’ve got a customer, who is actually in aged care at the moment, who I am guessing is about 97, who has never bought a car anywhere else,” Ian said.

“In his day, he used to buy top-of-the-range cars between Rambles and Crowns and Cressidas every two or three years.

“You can’t get a better loyal customer than that.

“And we have quite a few of those, but he is the one that stands out, Bert Woodcox is his name, and he is a great fellow.”

Ian has no plans to retire and remains optimistic that one of his children may choose to join the business one day.

“Who knows, we might make 100 yet,” he said.