H. A. Scott & Sons, carriage builders

As a young boy in the 1950s I remember visiting  my grandfather at work with his brother. They were amongst the last of their breed - coach and carriage builders. The family business was started by my great grandfather, Henry Ashmore Scott just before the First World War at the Camberwell Junction next to the E.S.&A. bank. He had previously been in partnership with Henry Rooks on the site of the Camberwell market for 25 years.

By the 1950s, motor vehicles had almost completely taken the place of horse-drawn vehicles, however, bread and milk was still being delivered by horse-drawn cart in Melbourne. A few carriage builders were needed to maintain these vehicles, and my grandfather and great uncle spent much of their time repairing baker's carts in the old paint shop, the main factory having been leased to another company for several years. They both retired later in the 1950s and the property was leased to car dealers.

Time moves on, and the property is now being developed into residential apartments. A multi-story building is being erected on the site.