Adelaide Used Car Company
This Avant Garde building was designed in 1936 by Eric Habershon McMichael & Alfred C. Harris.
These are the same architects who designed the Savings Bank of South Australia on King William Street, another very well known Art Deco Building which is State Heritage Listed.
66 Currie Street was built in 1937 for the Waymouth Motor Company and its trading name was originally the “Adelaide Used Car Company” (pictured above)
The owners wanted to display used cars in a new, inviting and modern building.
ARTICLE from BARRIER MINOR dated 16th August 1938:
These are the same architects who designed the Savings Bank of South Australia on King William Street, another very well known Art Deco Building which is State Heritage Listed.
66 Currie Street was built in 1937 for the Waymouth Motor Company and its trading name was originally the “Adelaide Used Car Company” (pictured above)
The owners wanted to display used cars in a new, inviting and modern building.
ARTICLE from BARRIER MINOR dated 16th August 1938:
"Mr. Maurice Kelly, Manager for the company said “used cars are not shown in the same attractive surrounding as new cars – why, no one seems to know.”
The Waymouth Motor Company was needing more room so they decided to establish the Adelaide Used Car Company at 66 Currie Street as a subsidiary to market used cars under new car conditions, and the result of the first years operations have more than justified the extension of their business. "
Although there were only a handful of car dealerships in the city in the 1930’s, most of them dealt in new cars.
According to records the Used Car sales in Adelaide peaked around 1945 and then it appears this showroom was upgraded to also showcase the new cars being imported from overseas.
According to records the Used Car sales in Adelaide peaked around 1945 and then it appears this showroom was upgraded to also showcase the new cars being imported from overseas.
Features of the Used Car Showroom
Take a quick stroll to the other side of the room to view the dance floor.
It is the original concrete floor (now painted charcoal) where the cars were parked facing the large glass window frontage.
Concrete was used as many of the cars from the 1930’s still dripped oil.
As the cars improved in design, and possibly when they started selling new cars, the flooring was upgraded to parquetry to present the cars in a more modern showroom.
All of the servicing of the used cars was completed out the back of this building in a very large warehouse that is now leased by PARK FAST Car Park company.
The remains of the hoists and pits used for servicing are still visible in this area as seen in the photo below.
The original barn doors are still in place where the cars were brought inside via ramps.
It is the original concrete floor (now painted charcoal) where the cars were parked facing the large glass window frontage.
Concrete was used as many of the cars from the 1930’s still dripped oil.
As the cars improved in design, and possibly when they started selling new cars, the flooring was upgraded to parquetry to present the cars in a more modern showroom.
All of the servicing of the used cars was completed out the back of this building in a very large warehouse that is now leased by PARK FAST Car Park company.
The remains of the hoists and pits used for servicing are still visible in this area as seen in the photo below.
The original barn doors are still in place where the cars were brought inside via ramps.
Historical photo courtesy of the State Library of South Australia. Current Photos courtesy Cassandra Tombs & Sharyn Colliver.
Thank you to the Adelaide Chapter of the Art Deco & Modernism Society of Australia for providing most of the historical information.
A big thank you also to David O'Loughlin, President of the Adelaide Art Deco Society, for walking us through this building and passionately explaining the features and history in detail.
A big thank you also to David O'Loughlin, President of the Adelaide Art Deco Society, for walking us through this building and passionately explaining the features and history in detail.