Historical information

The world-wide Mars Group built its first Australian manufacturing plant, Uncle Bens of Australia in Wodonga. From humble beginnings in a small house in Hovell Street Wodonga construction began in 1965 with production starting in March 1967. It was led by the vision of Dr Henry Nowik, a passionate believer in the need for decentralisation of Australian industry.

The plant launched with a production run of 1,000 cans of pet food daily and an initial workforce of approximately 200 employees. By 1991, the site was producing 2 million cans of pet food daily. By its 30th anniversary in 1997, annual sales reached $700 million, with 30% consisting of exports.
When the company celebrated its 30th year of production in 1997, it employed 530 people in manufacturing and 230 in support services and the national office.

Now know as Mars Petcare Australia, the Wodonga plant has undergone a major expansion in 2025 to implement new production lines and advances in technology. This will enable it to become the first large-scale steam-based manufacturing site in Australia to deploy a 100% renewable energy solution for its operation.

Significance

This photo is signifivant because it captures the early stages of the development of Uncle Bens Wodonga, a major manufacturer in Wodonga from the late 1960s until the present.

Physical description

A large coloured aerial photograph of the Uncle Bens of Australia site in Wodonga. The photograph has a wooden frame and is behind glass.