Mick Mills
Wilfred Donald ‘Mick’ Mills was born in August 1919 and joined the family business, A.J. Mills & Sons Pty Ltd, in 1934. His father, Archibald Mills, had founded the company in 1924 in Burringbar, NSW, hauling freight from the railhead using a second-hand Model T Ford. It was Mick’s drive, vision, and quiet leadership that transformed this small operation into one of Australia’s largest and most respected family-run transport companies.
Mick was an entrepreneur at heart—resourceful, determined, and always looking for the next opportunity. He was the type of leader who led from the front: securing long-term contracts, building customer trust, and guiding the day-to-day operations through hands-on involvement and calm decisiveness. Mick had a strong business mind, but he never sought the spotlight. He believed in doing the hard yards, doing them well, and letting the results speak for themselves.
In the early years, Mick helped move freight around the steep hills of Burringbar using horse and cart—hauling bananas, cream, and other local produce. As technology evolved, the business began using Army Blitz trucks after the war, followed by vehicles such as Albions and Mercedes-Benz 1418s. In later decades, the fleet transitioned to Kenworth trucks powered by Cummins engines, with Mick overseeing this growth through hands-on leadership and strong partnerships with dealers like Brown & Hurley.
In 1937, Mick invited his younger brother Eric into the business—an act that would eventually involve future generations of the Mills family. While Eric later oversaw the fleet and his sons, Kelvin and Reg, became known for their work in vehicle operations and administration, it was Mick who laid the foundation they built upon. Mick was the entrepreneur as well as architect of the company’s expansion across Northern NSW and Queensland, and the man behind many of the key decisions that secured its long-term success.
Mick’s sons, Michael and Noel, joined him in the business, working in operations under his guidance. Mick taught them to work hard, think strategically, and lead with integrity—values that defined the Mills name across decades of industry change.
Mills Transport grew into a fleet of over 200 trucks, known for its strong safety record, major long-term contracts, and generations of loyal staff. The business became a backbone of regional freight along the eastern seaboard, with Mick’s steady hand always guiding its course.
Mick continued working into his late 80s, staying involved in operations until the early 2000s. He passed away on the 21st of December 2007 at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy not only of business success, but of humility, resilience, and family leadership.
