Northbridge Motors

Bert Millman

Joseph’s son Bert completed an attestation form for voluntary service in the Militia Forces on 5 May 1939. He was then working as an upholsterer. His military record states that he enlisted with 13 Signals on 4 May 1939 and was discharged from the Second Australian Imperial Force on 6 November 1939.

 

Bert later took over the William Street garage in about 1947. The business continued under the Millman name as Millman’s Garage, Millman Service Station and later Millmans Motors. It remained at 469 William Street until at least January 1981.

 

Hodge & Ross

Hodge & Ross operated the garage at 467 William Street from 1931 until 1934. John Jeffrey Ross, known as Jeff Ross, lived next door at 469 William Street.

 

In 1935, both the garage and Ross’s residence were listed at 469 William Street.

 

Ross was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, on 18 February 1899. He served during the First World War and was wounded in France at the age of seventeen. He arrived at Fremantle aboard the Omar in 1921 under the Soldier Settlement Scheme. After an unsuccessful period on farming land, he worked on the railway to Kalgoorlie, studied mechanics at Perth Technical School and became a mechanic and garage proprietor.

 

In 1936, Hodge & Ross vacated 469 William Street and opened a new garage at 473 William Street, near the corner of William and Bulwer streets. By April 1937, the business was advertising as Hodge & Ross Service Station, and in March 1946 as Hodge and Ross Automotive.

 

Hodge & Ross remained near the William and Bulwer street corner for more than thirty years and was still appearing in official garage rosters during the late 1960s. Ross reportedly retired at the age of 68 and died on 13 November 1977.

 

Philip Shilkin

Philip Shilkin took over the garage at 469 William Street in 1936 and remained there until late 1937. During those two years, he was residing next door at 471 William Street.

 

Shilkin who was born in 1911, enlisted in the Australian Army on 10 November 1941 and was assigned to the 5th Military Division’s Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. The Australian Jewish Historical Society records him as Sergeant WX38748.

 

Shilkin died on 25 April 1977, aged 65.

 

Birch & Williamson

Birch & Williamson operated the motor garage from 1938 until 1940. The partnership appears to have consisted of Hector Francis Birch and Ken Williamson.

 

Birch lived at 471 William Street from 1938 until 1940. He was born on 23 June 1911 and described himself as a mechanic when he enlisted in the Australian Army on 9 March 1943. He served with the 125 Australian General Transport Company. Birch died on 8 October 1975, aged 64.

 

Ken Williamson occupied 471 William Street in 1941.

 

Joseph Millman’s return

In 1941, Joseph returned to the garage and resumed operating it until 1946. It appears he may have also owned the property.

 

On 1 August 1946, Joseph advertised his garage equipment for sale, including a hydraulic vehicle hoist and an overhead hoist with block and tackle. The garage appears to have been transferred to his son Bert around this time.

 

Bert and Freda Millman

Bert Millman took over the garage in late 1946. The business was listed as Millman’s Garage in 1948 and Millman Service Station by 1951. Between 1948 and 1953, the garage regularly advertised cars for sale or exchange, continuing the vehicle-trading side of the business that had begun during the 1920s.

 

The Millman name remained at 469 William Street until about 1981. Official records listed the business as Millman’s Garage in 1959, Millmans Service Station throughout the 1960s, and Millman Motors or Millmans Motors from the early 1970s.