George’s Garage in the 1950s. Photo courtesy of Tim Bennett.
Rosewood History, Qld
George’s Garage – Rosewood
© Jane Schy 2026
In rural towns in the 1940’s, a motor garage such as George’s Garage, Rosewood, was the lifeline of the community. World War II caused severe fuel rationing and garage owners had to use their skills as part-mechanics, engineers, and retailers. They showed immense mechanical ingenuity by outfitting local cars, tractors and farm trucks with “gas producer units.” By burning wood or charcoal in a low-oxygen environment, the units generated a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, known as “producer gas.” The gas was combustible and was piped into the engines’ intake to drive the vehicles. When replacement parts were scarce, mechanics machined, welded, and fabricated minor parts from scratch to keep vehicles running. Sometimes the work required the assistance of a blacksmith.
Garages sold motor spirits such as Shell, Plume, Atlantic and Golden Fleece, as well as lubricants e.g. Mobiloil, Neptune, Castrol and Penrite. Additionally they sold parts and farming supplies, and were often the local agents for companies like Austin, Dodge, or Ford. At some garages there were mechanical glass-bowl or gravity-fed bowsers out the front of the garage standing on gravel driveways. Customers could watch their fuel get measured and dispensed right before their eyes while they were being given friendly and personalised driveway service. For those of us who are old enough to remember these iconic bowsers, the memory is nostalgic.
In August 1942, George’s Garage opened in Rosewood, after a motor mechanic named Lionel George signed a lease agreement with John Lewis Roache, blacksmith, for a motor garage. Lionel set up his business in John Street at what is now numbers 13-15.
Lionel Merritt George, aka “Pip”, was born 26th July 1921 at Southport, to Bertie Lionel George (dairy farmer) and Alice Maud née Westaway. Lionel was studying at 
the Primary Correspondence School in 1932. His parents were farming at Pelican, outside of Chinchilla.
There was a residence behind the garage. It was previously the old Rosewood Post Office building, which was relocated and replaced in 1941, with the post office from Marburg.
Lionel enlisted in 2nd A.I. F. on 9th September 1942 at Ipswich. With the rank of Private, he served within Australia at various Army Trades Training Depots in Queensland, and he also had a short stint in Seymour, Victoria. His job was to rapidly train and qualify personnel in his trade. His brother Mervyn Lauriman George also served, and was a prisoner of war on the Thailand-Burma railway.
Lionel employed a mechanic, local man Basil Krebs, who must have kept things running while Pip was away. I don’t know if he had any assistance.
On 8th May 1943, Lionel married Jean Elder at the Methodist Church in Ellenborough Street, Ipswich. Jean was born 4th June 1921, to David Elder and Lucy Mabel née Freeman. At the time, Lionel’s parents were living at Theodore, and were proprietors of the Theodore Cafe.
Prior to their wedding, on Easter Saturday night, a social evening was held in their honour at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Levitt in Albert Street. Mrs. Rosy Yeoman, and other friends arranged the evening. Then on the following Wednesday night, Jean was guest of honour at a dance arranged arranged by Mrs. Olive Stitz and Mrs. Ivy Jenkins. Lionel was sick and couldn’t be at either of the functions.
Read about the wedding and pre-wedding functions here if you wish. Pre-wedding Evening Wedding
Lionel and Jean made their home in William Street. Lionel was discharged from the Army in December 1944, and sometime after, Gordon Robert Park, a motor mechanic, came to work at George’s Garage. Vince Loveday also worked part time for Pip George driving his hire car. He would drive people to the dances at Glenore Grove and Marburg.
In August 1945, Ellen Roache, widow of John Roache, sued Lionel for the sum of £110/13/4, for rent owing under the lease agreement. The Magistrate granted a decision in favour of Mrs. Roache.
It was often said that Lionel owned a DUKW, commonly called a “Duck”, a 2.5-ton six-wheel amphibious truck used in World War II. However, Lionel’s vehicle looked more like a Ford GPA “Seep” (Sea Jeep), a four-wheel amphibious vehicle built by Ford for use by the Allied forces. Around 150 Ford GPAs were imported from the United States during World War II for evaluation and local use. The Seep turned out to be heavier and less popular in deep water than intended. Lionel more than likely became familiar with them from his time working on Army vehicles. The vehicle is pictured in John Street, heading South past the Royal George Hotel in 1951.
Lionel and his “Duck”made the news in the Queensland Times on 18th February 1947 on page 7.
Hospital Case Rescued by “Duck” in Rosewood Area – Rosewood, Feb. 17
At the time the Bremer Creek was in flood a call was received at Rosewood that an urgent hospital case was stranded on the property of Mr. A. H. Shorter, Ashton Stud Farm, Mt. Walker Road. Ways and means of getting the patient into hospital were considered. As no boat was available that would stand up to the swiftly-running flood water, it was thought impossible to do anything until Mr. “Pip” George came to the assistance of those concerned, and said he would try to cross the flooded creek with his newly-acquired amphibious jeep. On account of the rapid flow of the water, doubts were expressed as to whether this should be attempted. Mr. George decided, however, that it was the only way, and proceeded to the Bremer Bridge. He decided to follow the slant of the bridge, which angle would allow for a slight drift downstream. A successful crossing was made. Proceeding on his way, Mr. George collected the patient and then had to recross the Bremer against a current in which no allowance for drift could be made. Opening up the motor at full-speed he made a successful crossing against this swiftly-running current. It was a very creditable performance for both driver and “duck.” Mr. George said yesterday that he had hit one of the bridge posts during the crossing, but no serious damage was done. As a means of carrying out rescue work the ability of the amphibious jeep was ably demonstrated. It will perhaps be of assistance to others in similar circumstances. Naturally those affected were grateful to Mr. George for his courageous effort.
On 22nd July 1948, Lionel enrolled again in the Primary Correspondence School. The school primarily educated isolated children, but it also offered crucial assistance to adults seeking to complete their primary education, learn basic literacy, or improve their English. It operated from the old Trades Hall in Brisbane, supporting thousands of remote students with lessons 
mailed entirely by post.
In May 1950, Lionel sold his business to Roy Jackson, a local coal carter. He and his wife Gladys and family lived in Rosewood.
The George family moved to Lismore, and Lionel opened a garage on the corner of Ballina Street and Diadem Street. In April 1951, he was sued by Roy Morrison, butcher at Rosewood, over the 1949 sale of a Pontiac for £200. Lionel won the action.
Claimed £200 Over Car Sale Rosewood Man Loses Action Over Car Sale
In March 1952, Roy Jackson sold his business to Messrs. Manning, Humphrey and Buy. The new owners began trading on Saturday 15th. The partners were:
- Wilhelmus “William” Johannes Cornelius Buys, garage manager. William and his wife Mavis and family lived in Albert Street.
- Leslie Arthur Humphrey, mechanic. Les moved to Rosewood from Sunnybank. He and his wife Alma and family lived in Matthew Street.
- Kenneth Manning, mechanic, and his wife Dulcie and family, moved from Sherwood to John Street.
Shirley Wyatt (later Boughen) was a teenager when was employed at the garage to work in the office and assist with driveway service in 1952. In March 1953, Bill Buys and Les Humphrey took Basil Thomas Krebs as a partner in George’s Garage. Basil had been working in the garage for 12 years. He and his family lived in Albert Street. Ken Manning and family relocated to Oxley.
Eventually Basil Krebs purchased the business and he acquired the freehold for the property. Bill Buys was still the garage manager in 1968, however, on the 1972 electoral roll, he was a farmer at Rosewood, so the business must have changed hands in the intervening years.
After being with George’s Garage for about 53 years, Basil Krebs retired in 1994 and his son Ross leased and then purchased the business. Ross retired in 2023 and the garage was sold on 26th April (2173m2 on 2 titles) and put under new management.
In May 2024, it was announced that George’s Garage had new (and savvy) proprietors. The Perkins family quickly settled into the community and have worked hard to revamp and establish a seemingly thriving business.
In August this year, 82 years will have passed since Pip George opened the garage, yet the name George’s Garage continues to be a living presence in our town.
What happened to Pip George who left this legacy? Eventually his business struggled, and a sequestration order was taken out by one of his creditors in December 1959. The family moved from Lismore to 40 Ryan Rd, Northgate, and Pip found work as a truck driver. On the 1963 electoral roll they were living at 80 St. Vincents Road, Virginia, and he was still a driver.
Lionel died at Brisbane on 9th July 1964, aged 42 years. I haven’t found his resting place. Jean died 13th July 1999, aged 78 years, and is buried with her parents at Stone Quarry Cemetery, Ebenezer.
Extra information or memories of the garage will be gratefully received. hello@rosewoodpasttimes.com
