In May 1967 Malcolm & Dawn Lane moved their Automotive Electrical business from 770 Nicholson Street, North Fitzroy to 14 Chanter Street, Berrigan after a chance meeting with Charles Horvath in Melbourne.
Charles car had broken down in Melbourne and Mac was doing the repairs when the conversation turned to business opportunities in the country. Charles who worked as an accountant for Bill Kay in Berrigan said to Mac he should take a drive to Berrigan and see for himself what the town had to offer in both business and family lifestyle.
After moving his young family to Berrigan, Mac commenced trading as Dawmac Engineering & Welding Supplies. The name Dawmac born from the combination of Mac and Dawn’s Christian names and still today sits proudly as our trading name.
The original building was an old tin shed with a sagging front entrance formally known as Charlie McGinley Hardware, and was located on the same site as where the main shop is located to this day. In 1969 Mac & Dawn purchased the building from Charlie McGinley.
As the business began to expand and grow new properties were purchased starting in 1976 with the adjoining property in Chanter Street formally known as Goldsmithsmort & Co then in 1979 the former Accountants building in Chanter Street which was the original trading premises of Howard Martin & Co. Dawmac took over the former premises and yard of R & R Plumbing (Rob & Ruth Rennick) in Jerilderie Street and purchased a parcel of land from Wayne & Jeannie Milne who owned the Berrigan Hotel in 1995. In 2010 the acquisition of land formerly known as Burwood Enterprises in Jerilderie Street was acquired and 2013 saw the purchase of the Big Store now home to Berrigan Menshed along with Husqvarna Ride on Mower display and where Paul does his Pump Repairs.
John began working for his parents in 1974 after finishing 6th Form at Finley High School aged 17 and Paul commenced at Dawmac in 1977 making it a full family business. In July 1982 Mac left Dawmac and Berrigan on a new adventure. John & Wendy purchased JDS Industries in Finley in 1989. The next family member to join Dawmac was Trent in 2014 after 10 years in the hospitality industry working at the Berrigan Golf & Bowling Club, The Globe in Albury and China Beach Restaurant in Manly, Sydney. Trent travelled the world and found his perfect partner in Aleks and she has now also joined the Dawmac Industries team.
In this ever changing world of business where nothing stays the same Dawmac endeavours to continually provide service and sales to our customers and the community.
