Jack Hillier

Jack Hillier began his career within the transport industry in November 1956 when he purchased a second-hand 1952 Ford to do the cream run from farms around Khancoban in New South Wales to a dairy across the Victorian border at Corryong. Soon after this Jack purchased a 1956 International AS162 for £1970. In 1957 Jack took over the district BP agency which he went on to run for the following 17 years. Construction of the nearby Snowy Mountain Hydro Electric Scheme enabled JH & NE Hillier Transport to grow rapidly from the late 1950’s and when construction of Khancoban township began, Hillier’s trucks were given work carting sand, cement and earthen-ware pipes. In 1958 Jack owned three trucks and by 1960 the fleet had grown to nine trucks to cope with extra work and contracts with the Snowy Scheme. Hilliers operated several makes including International, Austin and a Bedford. In the late 1960s, after the Snowy Scheme started to slow down, Jack established ready mix concrete which was essential in order to maintain staff and expanding the business. In 1973 Jack was subcontracted to cart gravel for the construction of the road to the proposed Dartmouth Dam site. After this contract ended Jack started crushing gravel at Orbost for Snowy River crossings. Over the next four years Hillier’s crushed 54,000 cubic metres of gravel. Hillier’s trucks continued to cart concrete, cattle, cream and other freight in the Corryong district during this time. Over the past 50+ years, Jack has completed sewerage works at Lakes Entrance, Hay and Mt Beauty and water mains from Albury to Jindera. He has carted for rural subdivisions at Jindabyne and Merimbula as well as Hume Highway bypass works at Benalla, Wangaratta and Albury, at the same time carting milk for Snowy Mountains Dairies. He has owned a variety of trucks including Kenworths, Iveco’s, International, Louisville’s, AD, Dodge and a Leyland as well as over 40 pieces of earthmoving machinery. Jack’s sons, Ian, Greg and Steve have all continued to work in the transport industry and although Jack is finally slowing down, he is still working most days.