MOOROODUC TIMBER & HARDWARE History of Moorooduc Timber IT was in late 1951 that Cliff Goding could see the need for more apple cases. Fruit exported to Sydney and Brisbane meant cases were being lost to the area. He made contact with Bob Parnell who had a small mill on Moorooduc Road, Moorooduc. As a result of the meeting, Moorooduc Sawmills was started, a partnership of Bob Parnell, Cliff Goding and Harry Goding. An old sawmill in Cardinia Road, Berwick, was purchased. This was transported to a one-acre site bought from Bob’s father at the corner of Bentons Road and Moorooduc Highway in Moorooduc (now the site of Peninsula Truck Parts). To drive the mill, a new 40hp crude oil engine with a single 200mm piston was purchased from McDonalds Tractors. Local pines that had been farm windbreaks were purchased for milling. After the mill was established, many enquiries were received for OB hardwood framing timber. Due to the black market of the day, building materials were in short supply so logs were sourced from Marysville and Gippsland from private landholders. Demand increased and more staff were employed with about 10 men working in the mill. To meet this demand, an improved office and shed containing flooring and mouldings were built. DISASTER. FIRE! FIRE! In 1955 the new shed and office was burnt out, which was a big kick in the guts. However with cooperation from the Shire of Mornington and builders, construction began on new buildings within a fortnight. As the business was growing, new lines were added including pine lining and flooring, weatherboards, jarrah, corrugated iron, wire fence products, cement, canite, masonite, cement sheets, concrete stumps, redgum, KD hardwood and hardware. The mill was also expanded to include a thicknesser, buzzer and docker, some of which we continue to operate to this day. The sawmill was closed in 1958 as better quality timber could be bought cheaper than we could mill it. The sawmill site essentially became a timber yard. The timber was cut to our orders, meaning less waste. House lots of timber were ordered from various country mills and delivered directly to site. The 1950s and 1960s heralded the arrival of the chicken industry to the region, resulting in an increased demand for heavy redgum, OB hardwood, corrugated iron and cement sheet. Expansion to Mornington was on the agenda. Cliff Goding’s son, Brian, joined the business in July 1959 after working for 10 years on the
family farm and orchard owned by his father and uncle Harry. In 1960 a downturn was looming. Two timber yards were already operating in Mornington, meaning we could be squeezed out. To meet this challenge, our present site on the Nepean Highway in Mornington was purchased from Reg Cakebread and we opened in July 1960, changing our name to Moorooduc Timber and Hardware. The two sites operated for four years until the Moorooduc sawmill site was eventually closed down, while Mornington continued to thrive. The rear Yuilles Road block was purchased, making Moorooduc Timber the largest timber supplier in Mornington. Five large new steel sheds were erected to store the extensive range of new species and types of timber in a professional manner. A machine shop and panel saw facility was also added, complemented by a large hardware store. In 1980, after years of using a cumbersome mobile four-tonne Fowler crane to unload trucks, Brian eventually persuaded Cliff to purchase our first forklift, a new two-tonne Komatsu. This saved a lot of time and labour and has since been increased to three forklifts over time. This generational change came about after much discussion. Brian’s son Michael Goding joined the business in November 1982, meaning three generations worked here at once. A six-tonne Isuzu truck was purchased in 1984 after putting up with Austin and Bedford petrol trucks that always seemed to be broken down or out of action. The first Isuzu was so good that another was purchased in 1985. We have upgraded the fleet with Isuzus ever since. The business was restructured in the early 1980s with the passing of Harry Goding and retirement of Bob Parnell. Brian undertook this financially daunting task with Cliff’s assistance. Moorooduc Timber was now exclusively in the hands of the Goding family. In July 1985, Cliff returned from holidays. Brian then lured him to the timber yard and surprised him with virtually the entire yard and sheds newly paved. He was impressed. However, that night he suffered chest pains and called the ambulance. Tragically he died the next day. Cliff gave wonderful leadership and foresight in establishing the business and seeing that it ran smoothly. In the mid-1980s we were using one of our factories in adjoining Pentecost Road for storage. Ian Ellis had the brainwave to put a large door at the rear of the warehouse opening onto
the timber yard. Ian did all of the work on this project, which is now able to store all surplus timber and cement products in this watertight facility. Weekend trading took on a different dimension in these times. As was the norm, most timber yards closed for the weekend at Saturday lunchtime. If the customer didn’t have what they wanted by then, they would have to wait until Monday. Come midday, desperate customers could often be seen trying to get those extra few lengths of timber to finish their jobs, while one of Brian’s children, as young as 12 years old,
would nervously hold the front door closed. In the 1980s and 1990s we had a period where five staff worked together for 19 years. They were Bob White (driver), Ian Ellis (driver), Kevin Moulding (hardware/sales), Michael Goding (yard manager) and Brian Goding (manager). Construction of houses and commercial buildings continued throughout this period. Merchant Builders became a huge customer. They were wonderful people to deal with as were so many of our growing number of customers. In 1997 Brian’s son Richard joined the business. As Moorooduc Timber had been steadily growing, the workload for Brian and Michael was stretching them a little, so the timing couldn’t have been any better. In 2000, computers were introduced after years of handwriting invoices. Computer speed and efficiency transformed every facet of the business. Innovations in timber production meant that old staples such as Oregon, OB hardwood and wet grade sawn treated pine were on the decline. This was demonstrated by the decision to cease milling Oregon after 30 years. Better quality kiln dried (KD) treated pine, preprimed LOSP design pine, cypress, laminated timbers and KD hardwoods were coming to the fore. A greater variety of timber species was also becoming readily available. Merbau became a huge part of sales to the flourishing outdoor/ backyard market. Our range has increased as such to include 11 different sizes of merbau steps, decking, posts and screening. This was supplemented by native species such as Spotted gum, Redgum, and Tasmanian Oak.
Richard Goding, left, Mark Goding, Michael Goding and Brian Goding.
This year Moorooduc Timber is celebrating 60 years. In that time, nine separate timber and hardware suppliers have come and gone from Mornington. The arrival of Bunnings and Masters has made us more determined than ever to provide superior service, range and quality of products. Moorooduc Timber, through The Goding Foundation, also continue to support the local community through local and national charity projects.