This presentation was given at a meeting of the Coffs Harbour & District Historical Society. 

Mr Smith commences to talk at 1 minute. 

Other Speakers: Mr England introduced the speaker and general questions from the audience.

Summary: Talks initially about population growth (primarily in Sydney), traffic congestion and the
cost of land, including for industrial use. This was the rationale for moving his industrial
manufacturing business W.E. Smith Engineering to Coffs Harbour from the factory in Lane Cove/North Sydney in Sydney. He
initially spoke to the Mr Bill Butterfield, Director of the NSW Department for Decentralisation.

Different areas of regional NSW were divided into different categories of government assistance for
the movement of industry (eg 100% areas were considered to be areas in decline and the
government desired to reverse this and 60:30:10(%) areas are where the population is static or
growing slowly). The area from Taree northwards (including Coffs Harbour) was classified as an area
which attracted a 100% NSW government loan with an enticing very low interest rate. Looked at
areas in NSW with engineering companies, ease of transport and a reliable workforce.

Deciding factors were: 1. Isles Forge and Engineering already here with equipment we did not have (and vice
versa); 2. Coffs Harbour has one of the best air services in rural NSW; and 3. Coffs Harbour was a
very desirable living area. 23 key personnel moved with the business up to Coffs Harbour. Had to
provide housing for these personnel and families. The NSW Government paid for the costs of moving
the business and staff out of Sydney.

Started up in Coffs Harbour (near Boambee Creek) on 1 March 1969 with office staff and in April started building up the workshop staff. They now have 72 personnel (including 45, some unskilled, from Coffs Harbour). Staff work well here. After only two months of manufacturing operations we are doing better than we were doing in Sydney. This seems to indicate that the whole operation is going to be very successful in the future. Our previous clients (from when in Sydney) are still with us, they are prepared to visit and inspect the engineering works
in Coffs Harbour.

We are ‘process equipment manufacturers’ (ie equipment for steel works, specialising in heat exchangers and pressure vessels). Can build a vessel (tank) to the size of 125 feet long and 11 feet in diameter and a weight of 60 tons in one piece. A smaller part to the business is the marine side which began as a hobby. This has grown rapidly and now turning over $150-200,000 in boats and marine parts a year. About to build their own hulls in three types (including surf boats). 

Raw materials from all over the world, mainly plates generally from Newcastle or Port Kembla, the tubing come from Adelaide or overseas (including Japan, France, Italy, USA, England, etc). Materials from overseas normally shipped to Brisbane. We tend to use road freight over rail due to the convenience. Also, the Coffs Harbour railway yards can only lift 2 tons and there is hardly anything of ours which is under two tons.

Later talked about the disturbing attitude for land clearing around Coffs Harbour and the knocking down of trees. Mentions plans to ‘open up a bit of a lake… if we can’ on the site. 

Some questioners are faint.

1 The company is now (2023) shown as being WES Engineering Australia Pty Ltd.
2 NBN News 30 January 2017: ‘W.E. Smith Goes Into Voluntary Liquidation’ by Dennis Driver. ‘Coffs Harbour’s troubled W.E.
Smith engineering has been placed into voluntary liquidation. 75 workers at the factory returned to work from holidays last
week to find the Boambee factory gates closed. Employees of the company were informed by email last night that the
company will cease to operate when existing contracts have been fulfilled’. Sourced from:
https://www.nbnnews.com.au/2017/01/30/w-e-smith-goes-into-voluntary-liquidation/ accessed on 9 February 2023.

See also ‘Coffs Harbour engineering company WE Smith closes doors without explanation’ an article posted on 26 Jan 2017 on
the ABC Coffs Coast website by Ruby Cornish. Sourced from Coffs Harbour engineering company WE Smith closes doors
without explanation - ABC News accessed on 23 February 2023. It was later announced in 2019 that ‘Coffs Harbour firm
W.E. Smith Engineering is liquidating its assets, and an unreserved auction for over 2,000 pieces of equipment will be held
the morning of February 28’. Sourced from: Auction of W.E. Smith Engineering's assets to be held next week - Australian
Manufacturing Forum (aumanufacturing.com.au) on 23 February 2023.