ES HOPE 1918-1954 Brisbane, Queensland

Originally a maker of springs for the horse-drawn vehicle trade, this firm began making springs for motor vehicles in 1914. A natural progression to building motor bodies followed and this activity grew to the point where a separate entity, Hope's Body Works, was established at Valley in 1927. By 1929 branch operations were located at Alexandra in Sydney and Lismore in northern New South Wales. In 1938 a serious fire at the Brisbane plant was a setback but it recovered with heavy wartime demands. Postwar programmes included roadster and coupe utility (pick-up) bodies for the Fiat 500, bodies for Brisbane's fleet of Sunbeam trolley-buses and the production of 'Cold Flame' kerosene-burning household refrigerators. In 1954 a return to bus work occurred when Brisbane City Council´s A.E.C. fleet was bodied.

1940 Dodge

Hammond

Olding Coachcraft (NSW)

Based in Glebe in Sydney's inner west. They produced stylish hearses on a number of platforms, including La Salle, Packard, Dodge, Oldsmobile, Buick and Ford. The earliest example we've seen is 1937, and the latest is 1953. More information on this builder is welcomed.  

The oldest Oldings hearse we've come across is the 37 La Salle owned by our NSW branch. This 39 Dodge Olding bodied Dodge hearse was rescued from a farm in South Australia, and is currently owned and being restored by our Victorian branch. It was last used for funeral services in the 1960s, by S A Kleemann, of Waikerie in South Australia.

Sage (Victoria)

1971 Dodge Phoenix Hearse. Limited Edition No. 37. Still in daily service and part of the fleet owned by L.R.THOMAS Funeral Director, in Ipswich, Queensland. This hearse was converted from a four door sedan and extended two feet. The car has a 318 V8 engine and is surprisingly economic on fuel consumption. This hearse is one of two built by Sages for W. G. Apps of (then) St.Kilda & Heidelberg. When new they were a mid gray, later when Apps went to a fairly bright gold they were re-painted.

W.D. Hadley

Currently owned by a Sydney funeral director, this Ford Fairlane hearse was photographed at the Rookwood cemetery open day in 2002. Note the unusual body lines and rear door treatment on this car. This car was built by W.D. Hadley. Wal Hadley spent many hours making the mould for the tailgate window by hand. 

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