Online Catalogue last updated 17th of September 2023
THE NAME 'KENWORTH' IS A LEGEND in Australian trucking. That iconic image of a road train with the big bull bar in the Australian outback - well, that's probably a Kenworth, pulling its weight and more.
Originally imported from America, these heavy-duty workhorses have now been manufactured locally for over 30 years, with the 30,000th Kenworth being built in 2005.
You don't have to look too hard or wait too long for a Kenworth to drive by. The trucks can be seen around Australia from the rugged outback to the city streets, their distinctive chrome grilles setting them apart from other brands. And they can be found in nearly every industry, from livestock haulage and refrigerated transport to mining and logging.
The story of Kenworth in Australia parallels the development of Australia's trucking industry. It begins after the Second World War, when people were clamouring for fresh produce, yet truckies despaired of finding a truck with the power to negotiate the often steep and winding interstate highways.
In the late 1950s a couple of adventurous truckies visited Kenworth's factory in America and, before long, fully-built Kenworths were being imported to Australia. What was so special about these trucks was that they were not coming off a mass assembly line. Instead, each one was custom-engineered to individual specifications.
Sales were slow at first (at times the trucks cost more than several blocks of land) but took off when operators realised their initial investment would be returned in spades. The trucks, they discovered, were reliable, durable, low maintenance and had immense hauling power. Moreover, the use of lightweight materials such as aluminium enabled more payload.
In November 1970 a Kenworth plant opened in Bayswater, Victoria and, not long after, in March 1971, the first Australian-made Kenworth came off the assembly line. Since then, the process of, 'Australianising' the truck has been a collaborative effort between Kenworth and its customers. As a result, Australian Kenworths are more durable and able to withstand heavier loads, rougher roads and higher ambient operating temperatures than American models.
This history looks at how a low-volume truck builder became Australia's highest selling heavy-duty truck brand. It charts the introduction of advanced technology and quality systems into the manufacturing process and follows the growth of a formidable dealer network. Then there are the trucks - the T600, the world's first aerodynamic truck; the classic W900AR or W-model; and the iconic W900SAR, the truck that marked the start of greater independence in Australian design.
Above all, the story is one of Aussie determination to custom-engineer a truck for Australia's tough operating conditions. This determination can be seen in Kenworth Australia's long-held status as the country's leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer.
Marcella G. Hunter is a freelance writer and editor based in Melbourne. She has degrees in history and communications and has authored several books, including corporate histories for Australia Post, AMP and Shell Australia.
Marcella was educated in Southeast Asia, England and Australia. Prior to freelancing she worked for several years in local government before moving into public relations consultancy. In addition to writing corporate histories, Marcella provides a range of editorial services to private and public sector companies.
Code No. 014607, ISBN 0646447297