Alyssa Fritzlaff
J. SMITH Motors in Morwell has celebrated 65 years in business.
The business originally opened in 1956, after its first owner John Smith retired as an RAF spitfire mechanic.
The Cornell family has been involved since the very beginning.
On opening day, Graeme Cornell began his apprenticeship, and continued to move up in the business until he eventually bought it outright.
Eventually, Graeme passed on J. Smith Motors to his son Darren Cornell, who still runs the business today.
It is the oldest garage in the Latrobe Valley, however its current owner, Mr Cornell has made sure the building doesn’t look it.
He’s been working to maintain the garage, which still demonstrates its roots with a distinctly retro appearance.
The J. Smith Motors’ sign still stands proud atop the roof.
“I started here as an apprentice in 1980,” Mr Cornell told The Express.
“I was brought up here and I moved down to Melbourne when I was about 20… I came back here around 2000.”
Mr Cornell eventually returned to the business about 15 years ago, so that his father could retire.
He said the business had been through many phases over the years and has changed significantly since the 1950s.
“It’s evolved, back in the 60s it was a Repco parts distributor, and we did a lot of air conditioner work in the 90s,” he said.
“Now we do general repairs and general servicing, towing and RACV work.”
The business has seen hundreds of employees come and go over the years, many of whom have started their own garages in the area, Mr Cornell said.
It is J. Smith Motors’ loyal customer base that has kept the business going for so many years.
“We’ve got customers that have been here longer than me,” Mr Cornell said.
“There’s customers in their 80s that were coming here when Dad was an apprentice.”
Mr Cornell thanked the many customers and local businesses who have helped him along the way.
He gave special mention to Andy Connolly, who once owned a business across the road from J. Smith Motors.
“He just used to give me advice and some pointers… because I came in here with no business experience myself,” he said.
