‘Many people do not ever develop their ideas because they never get started’
Colin Wiesner had ideas and in 1972, he, along with his wife Lorraine, founded Wiesners. Colin had been working at the local Massey Ferguson dealership as the head mechanic and workshop foreman. The business was located in a small shed in the main street of Walla and focused on the repair and servicing of farm machinery.
In the late 1960’s Colin, along with Clarrie Ronnfeldt, developed a woven wire mesh sieve that improved the sample in Olympic wheat. It is called the Wiesner Multi-Step Sieve and replaced the riddle (in the header). Wiesner began manufacturing the Wiesner sieve in 1973. Colin and Lorraine’s son, Chris, who was still at school, says “I remember as a young lad after school welding up the frames then roaring into the Albury Railway Station to put the sieves on the train at harvest time”.
In the 1970’s, Wiesners acquired a number of franchises for farm machinery products, extending the operations of the business into sales.
One of them was Deutz. Deutz was a new product coming out and the fuel efficiency of the air-cooled engine was way ahead of anything else. Chris recalls a funny story about his father –
“Colin told a customer at the bar at Henty, if ever a water pump or a radiator failed, he would replace the tractor for nothing.” “A few weeks later, the farmer was talking to a mate about Colin’s statement, and he predicted Colin would go broke replacing tractors when the water pump or radiator failed! His mate replied the Deutz had an air-cooled engine and there was no water pump or radiator”. The farmer could see the funny side!
In 1978, Chris joined the family business that was continuing to evolve. The dealership branched into the German manufactured Fendt tractors and CLAAS farm machinery.
A major expansion was commenced in 1992. This involved the building of a new workshop and showroom. Features of this structure were increased size, especially height, which allows for the repair of large machines, under a large traversing crane. This is the current premises located in Walla.
The early 2000’s saw the company experience rapid growth. The new workshop and under cover display was completed. Wiesners were now expanding their Sales, Service and Parts. Staff numbers had grown to include a Parts Manager, more service mechanics/technicians and administration. This allowed Chris to devote more time to the expansion of Wiesners.
In 2016, Wiesners opened their Wodonga business with Sales, Service and Parts. We now have a greater capacity to service Albury-Wodonga and surrounding districts right through to north east Victoria.
Sadly, in 2008, the founder Colin Wiesner passed away but his legacy continues to thrive and grow with his son Chris overseeing the direction of the business. Lorraine can still be found in the Walla office keeping a watchful eye over Chris and supporting the staff.
We continue to diversify our operations in the agriculture industry, backed by a solid history of sustainability and growth.