BMC-Leyland Motor Vehicle Plant

At this 26-hectare site the British Motor Corporation / Leyland Australia manufactured motor vehicles between 1950 and 1975. Pioneering a period of major post-war reconstruction, migrant assimilation and technical innovation in Australia, it was the only complete such plant in NSW employing a peak of 7,000 people from 35 nations. Significant engineering features, new to Australia included: Fully automated transfer machining of cylinder blocks, “Rotodip” corrosion preventative painting of car bodies, “Flexible” manufacturing with automatic conveyorized assembly and “Just-in-time” supply processes.

Sketch of the extensive plan at Zetland.

Unveiling the plaque.

Minister Carl Scully inspects a product of the plant, and the wording of the plaque.

Wording of the Engineers Australia plaque

Loading map...

{"minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"mappingservice":"leaflet","width":"100%","height":"350px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"zoom":14,"defzoom":14,"layers":["OpenStreetMap"],"image layers":[],"overlays":[],"resizable":false,"fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":true,"cluster":false,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clustermaxradius":80,"clusterspiderfy":true,"geojson":"","clicktarget":"","imageLayers":[],"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":-33.90466,"lon":151.21325,"icon":""}],"imageoverlays":null}

BMC-Leyland Motor Vehicle Plant location map.

Engineering Heritage Recognition Program

Marker Type	Historic Engineering Marker (HEM)
Award Date	June 2000
Heritage Significance	Between 1950 and 1975, the British Motor Corporation/Leyland’s plant at Victoria Park, Zetland was a major motor vehicle manufacturing and employment facility. During the post-war reconstruction period it was a major pioneer in migrant assimilation and technical innovation in Australia; it was the only complete such plant in NSW, employing a peak of 7,000 people from 35 nations, and it introduced significant engineering features to Australia including: • Fully automated transfer machining of cylinder blocks; • “Rotodip” corrosion preventative painting of car bodies; • “Flexible” manufacturing with automatic conveyorized assembly; and • “Just-in-time” supply processes.
Nomination Document	Available here.
Ceremony Booklet	Available here.
Interpretation Panel	None Installed.