Hare & Forbes - A Legacy Built Since 1930

Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse is a proudly Australian-owned, family-run business that has been supplying new and used workshop and engineering equipment since 1930. Founded in Redfern, Sydney by John Edward Hare and Scottish engineer Henry Graham Forbes, the company began as a scrap metal merchant.

In 1943, Henry Forbes retired, selling his share to John Hare. Around that time, John's son, Tom Hare-already a keen entrepreneur-was running his own venture, Hare Bros, with stepbrother Jack. When John's health declined, Tom purchased Hare & Forbes at age 26. By 1945, both businesses were operating side by side, capitalising on post-WWII machinery auctions.

Tom and Jack parted ways in 1952, with Tom taking full ownership of Hare & Forbes. He soon expanded operations, purchasing land in Parramatta in 1954 to build a dedicated showroom and warehouse.

In the early 1960s, Tom handed over the business to his four sons-Ray, Robert, Alan, and John. The company grew rapidly, expanding into new machinery imports. A Brisbane branch opened in 1989, later relocating to Macgregor in 1994.

The year 2000 marked a major milestone: the business rebranded as Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse and moved into a new headquarters in Northmead, Sydney. The fourth generation-Steve, Matt, Adam, Mike, Ben, Wayne, and Brad-joined the leadership team, alongside long-time General Manager Rick Foster.

Expansion accelerated through the 2000s. In 2002, Hare & Forbes acquired Herless Machinery in Melbourne, also gaining a Perth location. Between 2004 and 2018, branches in Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney moved into larger facilities to meet growing demand.

In 2008, the company expanded internationally with a showroom in Auckland, New Zealand-later upgraded in 2016. A second NZ branch opened in Christchurch in 2019. Growth continued with a new Melbourne distribution center in 2021 and the opening of a dedicated Adelaide warehouse in 2024.

Today, Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse continues to thrive as a fourth-generation family business, proudly upholding a 95-year tradition of quality, service, and innovation.

Replica - 1926 Chevrolet Flatbed Truck

To celebrate and preserve the rich history of Hare & Forbes Pty Ltd, we proudly acquired a 1926 Chevrolet One Ton Truck. This vehicle beautifully replicates our first truck, purchased by Tom Hare in Redfern in 1937. We discovered this gem at Tin Can Bay, Queensland, in 2013 and recently brought it to our store in Northmead. This truck not only honors our legacy but also connects us to our roots and the journey that shaped our company.

Rick Foster, General Manager of Hare & Forbes MachineryHouse commented

"The previous owner called her Feral Sheryl and the name just stuck. She was so beautiful in her original state, I just didn't have the heart to change her. Her floors are still worn down where people have driven her for the last 94 years and her tin cab still has all the dings in it. Why would anyone want to erase all that history?!"

Celebrating 90 Years of Hare and Forbes

To commemorate our 90th anniversary, Rick Foster sourced a 1927 Chevrolet flatbed truck, a similar model of the delivery vehicle we used back in the 1930s. This iconic truck has been lovingly restored and brought back to life as a special gift for the Hare family.

This gesture not only honors our rich history but also reinforces the values of dedication and craftsmanship that have defined Hare and Forbes since 1930. We're proud to celebrate this milestone and look forward to many more years of serving our customers with excellence.

You might be wondering why we named the truck Felix. For those who aren't die-hard Chevy fans, the cartoon character 'Felix the Cat,' created by Australian cartoonist Pat Sullivan in 1919, became the mascot for a Los Angeles Chevrolet dealership in the 1920s-owned by a friend of Sullivan's. Felix was featured on a three-sided neon sign that still stands today, making it fitting to name this iconic truck after such a beloved character

The entire restoration project, including all wood, metal, and automotive work, has been overseen and completed by Master Builder Sean Hagarty from OG Customs.

About MotoRRetro

MotoRRetro was founded in 2015 by Vaughan Ryan and Georgio Rimi. They met as apprentices in 1989 and, despite their competitive spirit, became fast friends with a shared passion for metalworking and classic vehicles. With over 20 years of industry experience each, including restoring high-end cars in the USA and extensive teaching at TAFE, they established MotoRRetro to be Australia's leading experts in automotive restoration and customisation.

We offer complete design and build services for cars and motorbikes, from original restoration to custom builds. The magic happens in our fully equipped Northmead, Sydney workshop, where we're passionate about delivering exceptional quality and professional service across metal shaping, welding, panel beating, and vehicle bodywork.

• Redesign, rebuild and restoration of classic cars and motorbikes
• Classes in metal shaping, MIG & TIG welding and related skills
• Manufacture and sales of specialist metalworking machines and tooling
• DIY bay rental with fully equipped workshop facilities

Whether you're learning a new skill or restoring a dream ride, we're here to help you build something amazing.

Learn more or book a class: motorretro.com.au

From Truck to Pedal Car.

The journey of our beloved Flatbed Felix took an exciting new turn when Rick Foster, General Manager of Hare & Forbes, approached Vaughan Ryan at Motorretro with a unique idea: "Can you build me a small version of Flatbed Felix?"

That simple question sparked the creation of a charming pedal car that perfectly captures the spirit of our iconic truck. Vaughan and Georgio, from Motorretro, eagerly took on the challenge, diving straight into building a scaled-down replica. Along the way, they tackled numerous challenges and made several design adjustments, resulting in a fantastic little pedal car-sturdy enough to even accommodate an adult!

Ben Hare, from the Hare & Forbes Marketing team, led the design effort-carefully drafting plans and crafting templates to ensure each part could be easily reproduced. His meticulous work laid the foundation for a comprehensive, easy-to-follow parts plan booklet, complete with downloadable scaled drawings and DXF files for anyone inspired to build their own.

We can't wait to see this delightful miniature version of Flatbed Felix hit the road-spreading joy and a healthy dose of nostalgia wherever it goes!

Behind the Scenes: Making the Video Series

To bring the story to life, we made Vaughan the face of the project and created a detailed video series documenting the pedal car's construction-step by step.

We converted an office space into a fully functional workshop studio and began filming. Georgio, Vaughan's partner at Motorretro, took the lead on welding tips and techniques, while Ezio-a longtime friend and experienced TAFE woodworking teacher-guided the woodworking segments.

Brad, Ben, and Will from the Hare & Forbes Marketing team captured the entire journey, highlighting not only the craftsmanship involved, but also how using the right tools and machines can streamline and elevate the building process.

More than just a how-to series, these videos are about inspiring others to roll up their sleeves, unleash their creativity, and experience the satisfaction of making something with their own hands.

Bringing passion, expertise, and a true love of craftsmanship to every episode, the team has created a series that's as inspiring as it is fun to watch.

So sit back with a cup of tea in your garage-and enjoy the ride!