Woodley's Motors' $1 million new car showroom, service division, administrative offices, used car lot and spare parts centre in Marius St, Tamworth, is best described as a state-of-the-art creation.
The concept and design have been very much a joint effort between business principal Warren Woodley and his wife Lorraine.
The building has been brilliantly designed with two sections from different eras blended sympathetically to create a complex that should service Woodley's Motors and their clients for generations to come.
The complex has been built by Tamworth contractor, R. and A. Segboer, on three blocks, from 202 to 208 Marius St, on the northern corner of Hill St.
Five striking white, arched sails made of hundreds of metres of special hailproof netting front the glass-encased showroom which is now home to the range of Volvo, Hyundai, Honda and Mazda cars.
Used cars are housed under the sails and a paved drive leads to the main showroom entrance. The huge service division is located behind the ultra-modern showroom and service management and the spare parts centre are adjacent to a customer lounge facility where waiting to pick up a car will be a pleasure.
"In the new showroom we had to be aware of our four competing new car franchises," Mrs Woodley said.
"The colour scheme could not specifically relate to a particular corporate image, so we chose a charcoal carpet, pale grey tiles, ghost gum walls and latticed pillars in a jacaranda shade."
The new section is blended with a cottage from the Victorian era, a landmark well-known for its days as a restaurant.
Mrs Woodley put a great deal of time into combining the two building styles and bas achieved remarkable results.
The cottage now houses most of the company' s administrative section and lunchroom facilities, Mrs Woodley said the lattice used in the showroom had been specifically placed as a link with the style of the cottage which has latticed ends on the verandah.
Again, the arched bays of the hailproof netting and the finials or spires which decorate them imitate the facade of the cottage.
Mr Woodley's office is in the cottage and there are french doors opening from it to the front verandah.
Customer parking is an important feature of the new complex.
There is easy access from Hill St to the area behind the service division and cottage and is a major "plus" after frustrations experienced at Woodley's former service location.
Northern Daily Leader, Thursday, August 17, 1989.
