Donalda Motor Service celebrates 100 years of VACC membership

Maffra family business marks rare centenary milestone in 2025

Maffra, Victoria - 13 October 2025. Donalda Motor Service, a cornerstone of the Maffra community, will celebrate an extraordinary milestone in 2025—100 years of membership with the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC). As Member No. 7, Donalda joined the Chamber in 1925 and has remained a loyal and active member ever since, making it one of the earliest and longest-serving automotive businesses in Victoria to do so.

Founded in 1925 when the McDonald family established the business in St Kilda, Donalda's journey to Maffra began when one of the founding brothers followed his girlfriend to the Gippsland town, relocating the enterprise in 1926. Once established in Maffra, Donalda quickly became known for innovation—installing the town's first petrol pump and one of the region's earliest hydraulic hoists. A century later, the business continues to blend tradition with modern service, supporting both the motoring and agricultural needs of Gippsland.

Today, Donalda Motor Service operates from its Johnson Street dealership in Maffra and its agricultural site on McMahon Drive, as well as a branch in Bairnsdale. The business represents trusted brands including Mitsubishi Motors and Mahindra, alongside agricultural machinery and equipment. Its services range from new and used vehicle sales, finance and insurance, through to specialist servicing, parts, and after-hours farm machinery call-outs. At the helm are three generations of the McDonald family—Colin McDonald and his wife Jennifer, their son Murray, and Murray's daughter Jemma—ensuring the enterprise remains proudly family-run and community-focused. Jennifer McDonald manages the Bairnsdale branch, extending the family's commitment to serving regional Victoria.

Colin McDonald, Director of Donalda Motor Service, continues to guide the business with the same values of integrity, innovation, and service that have defined it for a century. Under his leadership, Donalda has embraced new technologies, supported local apprenticeships, and ensured that country customers enjoy the same high standards of service and repair available in metropolitan areas.

"Donalda has always been about more than cars or machinery—it's about people," Mr McDonald said. "Our family has been proud to serve Maffra for nearly a century, and to stand alongside the VACC for 100 years. This milestone is as much about our community as it is about our business."
VACC Chief Executive Officer, Peter Jones congratulated Donalda Motor Service on reaching the rare 100-year milestone.

"Centenary members like Donalda demonstrate the enduring strength of Victoria's automotive industry," he said. "Colin McDonald and his family exemplify what it means to be a trusted local business—innovative, resilient, and deeply connected to their community."

As Donalda Motor Service celebrates this centenary with staff, customers, and the wider community, the McDonald family remains focused on the future—ensuring the workshop continues to be a mainstay of Maffra for generations to come.

ENDS

Media contact:

Andrew Molloy

Manager Marketing, Media, Communications & Publications

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