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Drummond & Etheridge

DRUMMOND & ETHERIDGE ASHBURTON CHRISTCHURCH TIMARU

Tancred Street (Now Westpac)

Tancred Street (Now Muckles)

The times, they are a changing

Bob Drummond and Arthur Etheridge formed the business that bears their name in 1933. Mr Drummond and Mr Etheridge purchased a garage property, 68 Tancred Street, carrying on a general repair shop and service depot for Rugby and Auburn cars. They have only this year in 2010 relinquished that site to the Westpac Bank. In 1935 they formed a limited company with a capital of £2,000, and acquired the local agency for Morris and Terraplane cars from Dominion Motors and in 1936 invited Ernie Scott to become a shareholder and working partner. In 1937 the business prospered to such an extent that it was decided to open a branch on the corner of East and Grey Streets, known as Servrite, and was appointed the official A.A Service Station. Being on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the principals were kept busy due to their dedication to servicing the vehicles of Ashburton, their wives often referred to them being busier than doctors.

During the war period the entire staff of the service station enlisted, consequently the service station was closed and the building sold, while they built a new and enlarged workshop at the rear of the Tancred Street premises. In 1949, the company was appointed Nuffield tractor agents and soon after acquired the New Holland baler and equipment franchise. 1956 saw the retirement of their managing director Mr Bob Drummond, and Arthur Etheridge reluctantly stepped into his shoes. The company flourished and grew from there with further adjacent land purchased on Moore Street, the St James picture theatre was purchased and demolished for further land development, and they then became the franchise for Austin car, Landrover and Triumph. The largest defining moment occurred in 1975 when they obtained the John Deere tractor and machinery franchise, which has

become the largest part of their business and they still hold this franchise today. They purchased further office blocks and Combine shed from Baileys as well as the old National Bank, while accumulating further franchises in Honda and Nissan. In 1989 they also started a combine and tractor wrecking yard. 1990 was a big year for Drummond and Etheridge as they procured the Toyota from Wright Cars. Unfortunately in 1995 this franchise was released from them, for no apparent reason other than that the cars were too similar to the other franchises they were operating. This was a tough time for Peter and his team, as it was heartbreaking to have a franchise removed that they had worked so hard to build up, when seemingly they had done nothing wrong. Peter Etheridge was owner and managing director until 2003, when Mark Etheridge and his brother in law Ashley Gordon took over the helm. Ashley was tragically killed less than

a month later. Peter still currently works for Drummond and Etheridge today, but with less stress as his son leads the business in it’s current direction. Peter’s daughter Suzanne also has an active role in Drummond and Etheridge’s success as the merchandising manager. Since Mark has led his team, Drummond and Etheridge have now purchased the John Deere franchise in Christchurch and the Nissan and Holden Franchises in Timaru, to become a large driving force in the agricultural and motoring industry throughout Canterbury. They are also the Polaris, Husaberg and Agrowplow franchise holders. In 2006 Drummond and Etheridge announced plans to move it’s John Deere sales, parts and servicing to a new purpose-built facility on East Street, which they have now successfully moved into in 2010. Drummond and Etheridge now have more than 100 staff Canterbury wide.