Historical information

H.D. Lee (Aust) was established in 1973 as a joint venture between Yakka Pty Ltd and Vanity Fair. In 1973 it decided to move to Albury-Wodonga, encouraged by government decentralisation assistance, lower overheads and the central location of the region.

H.D. Lee opened a temporary pilot factory with 12 staff in Kiewa Street, Albury, in January 1974 while a new 50,000 sq. ft. factory for 400 staff was built on council land in West Wodonga. This was erected by local builders Zauner Construction, completed in late 1974 and began operations in April 1975. The factory became Australia’s second largest jeans manufacturer and employment in Wodonga at times exceeded 400 staff.

In 1991 Yakka, which already owned 50 per cent of the H.D. Lee shares, bought out the rest. It quickly moved to reduce staff and transferred the administration to Broadmeadows. By 1997, the workforce had fallen to 110, and production of Lee and Faberge jeans, jackets and shorts gave way mostly to industrial wear.

Significance

This item is significant because it documents an important industry and employer in Wodonga in the 1970s.

Physical description

A newspaper article explaining the H. D. Lee business in Wodonga.