Woodley's Motors has set the scene in Tamworth this week for a future association with the motor industry that will eclipse even its past 67 successful years.

A $1 million project in Marius St to bring all sales, service and administration departments under the one roof, the plan of company managing director Warren Woodley for some time, will be officially opened at an 8pm ceremony tomorrow night.

Woodley's Motors first made its mark on the Tamworth motor industry in 1922 when Warren Woodley's grandfather, the late Harry Woodley, set up his motor trimming and car upholstering business in Brisbane St, about opposite the site of the old Capital Theatre.

Their motto in those days was "Let's Put One Over You", an interesting comment in 1989, but quite innocent in the 1920's.

It simply referred to making hoods for automobiles, a burgeonning business in those days.

Young Neville Woodley (Warren's father) joined the business on it's early days and figured prominently in the move to the new premises at 420 Peel St about 1930.

Harry Woodley retired during the early 1930s, but the business was carried on with great tenacity by Neville during the Depression and World War II.

After the war, spray painting and motor trimming were introduced.

Warren Woodley joined the business as a trainee motor trimmer in 1953 and in the early 1960s panelbeating was started.

Neville Woodley died in 1968 leaving Warren to carry on the firm.

"By that time we were fast outgrowing the 420 Peel St premises and a shed behind them that we rented was coming up for redevelopment and we couldn't use it any longer," Mr Woodley said.

"I took the plunge and went across the road to my bank manager at the ANZ to see if I could borrow money to move to 484 Peel St (the site just outgrown).

"Many people considered the location a long way out of the Central Business District and that it would harm our trade, but it wasn't long before it became part of the business area," Mr Woodley said.

The same year as the move to 484 Peel St, 1971, Woodley's took on their first new car franchise with Volvo Australia.

Service and spare parts divisions were established and a mechanic and salesman employed.

The firm had grown to support a staff of seven.

"We then took on the Honda franchise in 1973 and in 1975 purchased the block of land next door at 486 Peel St and moved our motor repair workshop there," Mr Woodley said.

The panel and paint shop was relocated at Taminda in 1979 giving more space for sales, service and spares in Peel St.

Smash repairs had become a specialised and sophisticated division and needed its own home.

The Hyundai car from South Korea was next to join the Woodley's stable in 1987 followed by Mazda in 1988.

"By this stage our Peel St premises had grown just like Topsy. We had the space, but things were unsatisfactory," Mr Woodley said.

"We surveyed our customers about 18 months ago and among the things we discovered was that many people found access to our service department difficult.

"It was a bit of an ordeal to find it with the entrance in Hill St and once clients manoeuvred their way into the parking lot they would often find it was full.

"Our used car yard was removed from sales, service and administration at the comer of Hill and Peel streets and that was just plain inconvenient and frustrating.

"It started me thinking that we should move. For years I had liked the site in Manus St, but never had the where with-all to buy it.

"Now we've achieved the new site and the opening tomorrow is really the start of Woodley's Motors future," Mr Woodley said.

Northern Daily Leader, Thursday, August 17, 1989.