Victoria’s manufacturing sector has gained an uplift with Walkinshaw Group officially opening its new $114 million automotive manufacturing headquarters and expanded facility in Dandenong South, according to Invest Victoria.
In a news release, Invest Victoria said the 100,000-square-metre site consolidates operations from three existing Walkinshaw locations and will create 155 new jobs across production, engineering and administration.
The agency added that the investment positions the company to scale its manufacturing workforce to as many as 1,500 employees as demand grows.
According to Invest Victoria, the new facility is designed to support production of more than 10,000 vehicles per year for the Australian market, including left-hand-drive to right-hand-drive conversions and vehicle enhancements for major automotive brands such as General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen and Isuzu.
The site also includes what Walkinshaw considers Australia’s most advanced automotive engineering centre, featuring multiple production lines and a renewable solar energy system to support long-term operations.
Invest Victoria said Walkinshaw selected Melbourne’s south-east because of the region’s established manufacturing base, strong access to engineering and technical talent, proximity to its existing workforce and suppliers, and efficient transport and logistics links.
The agency noted that it assisted Walkinshaw in securing the site, enhancing its engineering capability, and connecting with defence and federal industry stakeholders, including the Office of Defence Industry Support. It also supported the company’s submission on the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).
Walkinshaw Group CEO Ryan Walkinshaw said the project demonstrates the company’s long-term commitment to Victorian manufacturing.
“We truly believe in the strength of Australian manufacturing and engineering, especially here in Victoria, and this should show everyone how committed we are for the long term,” he said.
