About F Gaukroger & Sons

The original Frank Gaukroger came to Tingha, near Inverell, in 1910 as a Boiler Inspector and Mining Engineer. He was sent there to oversee the building of the first tin dredges in the Tingha area which was experiencing a mining boom and had a population of ten thousand people.

Frank Gaukroger opened his engineering workshop and started servicing mining equipment as well as motor vehicles. As time went on he started selling new motor vehicles sourced from importers in Sydney.

The company still retains a 1922 Chevrolet in the Inverell Motor Museum sold new by the original Frank Gaukroger and traded back in the 1930’s from the original owner’s son.

Franks two sons, Jack and Victor Gaukroger, joined their father in the business after the First World War. Jack had completed an engineering degree with De Havilland in England.

In 1926, General Motor’s opened in Australia and the firm of F Gaukroger & Sons was appointed as an inaugural dealer.

Victor Gaukroger sold his share of the business and opened a Vauxhall franchise in Inverell.

In March 1931, F Gaukroger & Sons were appointed the Inverell and District agent for NRMA and has provided both Insurance and Road Service facilities for the past 75 years.

In later years, Jack’s sons, Jack, Bernard and Frank joined their father in the firm along with Jacks brother Garnie.

F Gaukroger & Sons built new premises in 1971 and now operate a multi franchise dealership with Holden, Mazda and Nissan. A new NRMA shop front was also opened in June 1992. Frank J Gaukroger joined the family firm in March 1971 after working with ACT Motors, a Holden dealership in Canberra. John Damien Gaukroger also joined the firm in June 1976.

This year 2011 sees the firm of F Gaukroger & Sons celebrate 85 years as a General Motors Dealer and 80 years as a NRMA Country Service Centre. Mark Palmer and Braith Gartshore, proprietors of F Gaukroger & Sons, together with their friendly, professional team of more than 30, will ensure that your every motoring need is fulfilled.