Historical information

Patrick Toole was born in Corowa on 7 September 1913. In the early 1930s the family moved to Wodonga. Pat became an apprentice mechanic with Bill Dobbie and became a partner in 1936. Patrick Toole took over business in his own right on 23 August 1939. Toole’s Motors also ran a car and truck agency, a towing and crane depot, as well as a small disposal section.
After breaking his leg in 1963, Pat extended the disposals business and by 1965 it was running as Wodonga Disposals and later, Toole’s Disposals. At their peak Toole’s employed 70 people across their various businesses including the garage, wreckers, towing businesses, a storage shed at Bandiana and the Disposal Store.
Pat died in Wodonga on 10 November 1976 and the Disposals Store was taken over by his twin sons, Frank and Bill. His other sons, Pat and Jim ran the North Eastern Truck Wreckers.
Tooles Disposals acquired most of their stock from Government auctions and also became licensed second hand dealers. They sold a wide range of military and non-military equipment from clothing to footwear and equipment for cooking and camping. They also shipped scrap metal to Japan and sourced uniforms and other items from Japan and East European countries.
The business continued on the corner of High Street and Stanley Street for over 70 years, but the Toole family decided to sell the building in 2009. The building was eventually sold to a local business consortium in 2010. Toole’s continued to operate until May 2011. Thee building was demolished in 2013.
Bill Toole continued Toole’s Disposals as an online business with numerous Australian and international clients.

Significance

These images document an important and long standing business in Wodonga.

Physical description

A collection of images and a business card for the company of Tooles Garage and Disposals in Wodonga. Images depict the business at various stages in its development over more than 70 years.

Inscriptions & markings

Photo 1 Beneath image - 1929 W. DOBBIE MOTOR & GENERAL ENGINEER / Con Lindsay, Alec Padgett, Bill Dobbie, Pat Toole
Photo 2 Beneath image - 1940 A. L. TOOLE MOTOR & GENERAL ENGINEER / Fay Fulford, Gerry Nelder, Mick Presnell, Pat Toole
Photo 3 On building - TOOLES MOTORS est. 1939/ TOOLES MOTORS PTY. LTD./ DISPOSALS/ DISPOSALS AT CITY PRICESt
Photo 4 On sign - TOOLES DISPOSALS
Photo 5 Business card