From 17 de-commissioned army barracks, transported to Warrnambool from Bacchus Marsh, Fletcher Jones Pleasant Hill factory started from humble beginnings, very much like its famous owner.
Fletcher Jones purchased this site in 1947 for 430 pounds, a bargain, inheriting three quarries which were used as a rubbish dump.
A year later the first building of the factory began operating, and for several decades to come, it would employ thousands of Warrnambool people becoming the heart beat of the city.
Sadly, when manufacturing ceased in 2005, there were fears this soon to be heritage listed factory would simply disintegrate.
Luckily it was purchased by Dean Montgomery, who has since invested millions of dollars of his own money to begin to bring it back to life.
That was before May this year, when Dean listed the site for sale, causing those same fears among the locals that the site will be lost.
In this episode of The Full Story, we look back on it’s history, the man who created it, right thought to what it’s next chapter could be.