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90,000th Australian Made Kenworth
The 90,000th Australian-designed and manufactured Kenworth truck was officially delivered to McColls Transport during a celebration at PACCAR’s Bayswater production facility in Melbourne.
[Family and business hold a special significance for Mark McCarthy of McCarthy Transport. He believes that in life, having a goal and striving toward it is essential. For Mark, the drive to succeed comes from a deep-rooted passion and the desire to honour his upbringing. “If it’s good enough for you to do it, I’d like to have a go at this,” he reflects. Starting his journey in 1975, Mark is now transitioning into retirement, confident that his two sons, Matthew and Michael, will carry on the family legacy. With eight grandsons in total, he hopes they will find a similar path and thrive as their fathers did.]
Kenworth Delivers 90,000th Australian Made Truck
The 90,000th Australian-designed and manufactured Kenworth truck was officially delivered to McColls Transport today during a celebration at PACCAR’s Bayswater production facility in Melbourne.
Built in Bayswater, the milestone T909 celebrates Kenworth’s enduring commitment to providing purpose-built trucks trusted by Australian operators for their performance, durability and reliability.
Since commencing local manufacturing in 1971, Kenworth has consistently expanded to meet growing demand. The company reached an early milestone in 1974 with the delivery of the 1,000th Australian made truck a K125CR. More than fifty-five years later, the 90,000th Kenworth has been produced at Bayswater, and delivered to Geelong-based McColls Transport during an all-employee event celebrating Australian manufacturing, where both vehicles were displayed.
90,000th Australian Made Kenworth
Kenworth employees were joined by McColls CEO, Simon Thornton, along with National Fleet Manager, John Hovey, who accepted the keys to their new T909 from PACCAR Australia Managing Director, Damian Smethurst.
Damian said, “This marks a significant achievement for PACCAR in Australia, and reflects the longstanding dedication of its employees, dealers, suppliers and customers. The production of the 90,000th truck is a source of immense pride for PACCAR and represents a strong commitment to the Australian transport industry.
“While this milestone underscores PACCAR’s manufacturing legacy, the company remains focused on delivering quality and value with every Australian-built Kenworth. Each truck is purpose-built to suit its specific application and operating environment, with meticulous attention to detail that ensures the durability, performance, and reliability expected by our customers. This approach continues to differentiate the Kenworth brand in the Australian heavy-duty truck market.”
Customers such as McColls Transport play an integral role in this success. In April 2016, they took delivery of their 200th Kenworth, a K200. With the addition of this latest T909, McColls has now taken delivery of nearly 400 Kenworth trucks, reflecting a long-standing partnership built on performance and trust.
PACCAR also acknowledges the critical contribution of its Australian supply partners, many of whom have supported the Bayswater facility since the plant commenced production in 1971. Their ongoing commitment to quality and innovation is fundamental to Kenworth’s manufacturing operations. Together, PACCAR and its partners continue to deliver industry-leading products that support customers across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
In the Beginning
“I can still remember the very first load that I did in the very first truck,” Jim recalls. With little more than ambition and a truck, he set off carting grain for farmers in central New South Wales. That initial experience laid the foundation for what would become Australia’s largest privately owned grain business, executing nearly two million tonnes of product worldwide.
