From dusty paddocks and diesel engines to digital diagnostics, Dookie Motors has seen it all.
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And now the team at the garage is quietly marking 100 years of keeping the region moving.
The property at 84 Mary St, Dookie was bought by John O’Shea in 1925.
Mr O’Shea sold the property to the Smout family in 1934, and the business was then named Economic Garage.
Cars were still a novelty then, and some locals travelled by horse and cart.
A century on, wrenches are still turning in the same garage, under the steady hand of local mechanic and community stalwart Brian Feldtmann.
“I came across Dookie Motors because the previous owner was looking to sell in 1988, and I was a local mechanic,” Brian said.
“He gave me the opportunity to follow up on it.”
The business was previously operated by Brian’s cousin Bruce Feldtmann, who had run it since 1960.
Bruce changed the name to Dookie Motors, and since then, the garage has witnessed significant technological evolution.
“We’ve gone from fixing horse and carts to scan tools and electric trucks,” Brian said.
What began as a modest operation with two mechanics and one hoist has expanded to include four hoists, including a dedicated truck hoist, with a staff of five.
Even the physical building tells a story. The main section was rebuilt in the 1950s, Brian added the break room in the ’90s, and another shed followed in 2010 for larger machinery.
The workshop now services everything from lawnmowers to Mack trucks, occasional Rolls-Royces and even carried out experimental work on a train engine.
Dookie Motors serves customers from Shepparton to Wangaratta.
“I think the secret to our longevity is that we do the jobs no-one else wants to do,” Brian said.
“We do it all, tyres, lights, electronics, brakes; we’re broad, and that’s why people keep coming back.”
The business maintains its commitment to training new generations of mechanics.
“Every four years since I started, I’ve had an apprentice, I saw that as my way of staying educated — while also giving back,” Brian said.
Brian and Lexie have expanded their business interests to include Jetstream Sprayers, manufacturing and distributing agricultural equipment parts nationwide.
“She does everything,” Brian said of Lexie’s role in managing accounts, customer service and petrol sales.
Despite modern advances, Dookie Motors maintains its traditional approach.
“We don’t do online bookings, we still use the old-fashioned diary up the front,” Lexie said.
“Anyone can walk in, check what’s on, and we go from there.”
Despite a century of change, Dookie Motors remains grounded in its community.
Brian is president of the local rec reserve and still runs to the nearby CFA station, when the siren sounds.
Lexie has served as Lions Club president, and the business regularly supports the bowls club, local shows and Dookie’s broader volunteer network.
Looking to the future, Brian acknowledges the industry’s evolution.
“Electric cars are coming, no doubt, but trucks will still need diesel, brakes and tyres ... that won’t change.”
The business is currently seeking a new apprentice to continue its legacy.
Interested candidates can contact Dookie Motors on 5828 6215.