Middy’s Oakleigh Historical Moments & A New Chapter

Middy’s new purpose-built branch will serve the electrical industry for many years to come.

The original Middendorp Electric Oakleigh branch, one of the first five Middy’s branches, was opened in 1961 to service Oakleigh and the growing south eastern suburbs. The early days saw trade sales at the front of the building with some Middendorp manufacturing continuing in the rear with some rubber moulding machines producing the Middy branded plug tops for a period until injection moulding took over and the family then focused more strongly on wholesaling.

During the seventies, a small team of ten ladies assembled and dispatched two and four-foot bare batten fluorescent fittings by the pallet to the growing branch network. The branch also served as a satellite admin. office where the Company’s Chief Purchasing Manager was based. Bulk orders were placed on suppliers, delivered to Middy’s Oakleigh then distributed to the growing branch network. A famous Middy’s Sales Manager, Bob Russo, was also based out of the branch. Before computers, all the branch networks handwritten customer invoices and supplier invoices were sent to Oakleigh and vetted before being mailed to customers or sent to Head Office, respectively. The branch also served as a Regional office for several senior staff members for many years as well as being a major training branch for many staff who then progressed into other branches and positions throughout the company.

On December 31st, 1999, Middy’s Oakleigh was host to a special moment in the Company’s proud history. Whilst most of Australia were celebrating New Year’s Eve the traditional way, Director, Hugh Middendorp and Branch Manager, Joe Godino together with one of Middy’s Oakleigh’s very loyal and long term customers, Tim Courtney, owner of TR & MM Courtney, met at the branch and conducted the first Australian electrical wholesale transaction of the new millennium. This was completed at 1am on 1/1/2000, as Hugh was allowing for daylight saving time.

After 59 years, on Friday June 19, 2020 the official last day of trading in the original Middy’s Oakleigh building had arrived. Given the restrictions relating to the Coronavirus, a small gathering was fitting to commemorate the occasion. The event brought together retired Director, Hugh and current Directors Nicholas and Anton Middendorp joined by some past and current senior management and once more, Tim Courtney attended to complete the last transaction. It was both a fantastic opportunity for the guests to reminisce and share stories from the past as well as being the perfect end to this chapter of Oakleigh’s history.

The new Middy’s Oakleigh, built just two blocks along the service road from the old site, opened for trading on Monday 22nd June 2020. To mark the occasion, Branch Manager, Graeme Ralph invited another very loyal and long-term Middy’s customer Wayne Thorn and son Lindsay, a fourth generation electrician of CR Thorn & Sons, whose account dates back to 1965, to be a part of the first transaction. A few staff members who had worked at Oakleigh through the years were also invited. Opening offerings in week one had a wood-fired pizza truck and a mobile coffee van on site which proved to be a hit with customers, staff and surrounding businesses alike.

Middy’s Oakleigh is now offering you more:

• More parking
• Larger modern showroom
• New Lighting & TechEnergy displays
• A broader range and variety of stock
• The latest electrical & lifestyle products for home and business
• A broad range of data, security, A/V and industrial products

We welcome you to visit Middy’s Oakleigh