McGaffin Design collection

In 1969, New Zealand couple Rod and Lynette McGaffin founded their business, McGaffin Design, in Queensland. The firm specialised in industrial and graphic design, with Rod serving as the industrial designer and Lynette as the graphic designer.

The McGaffin Design collection was generously donated to State Library of Queensland in 2025 and documents a wide range of projects undertaken by the firm, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s, through artist renderings, technical drawings, architectural plans, mock-ups, photographs, and promotional materials.
 

These projects include the design of boats and hovercraft (one of which was acquired by entrepreneur Christopher Skase), commercial signage, Dyco hydrostatic drive line markers (machines used to paint lines on roads, airports, and car parks), and the JetVac and AquaJet carpet-cleaning systems.

Among the collection's highlights are several notable projects and designs.

In 1973, racing car driver Denis Geary commissioned McGaffin to convert the former competition car Lola T70 for road use, creating a distinctive enclosed-body version of the vehicle. Geary had campaigned the Lola T70 in Australian motorsport during 1968–69 before it was rebodied as a road car. The modified vehicle was featured in the February 1973 edition of Racing Car News magazine.

“Bodywork modifications and fabrications have been done by Rod McGaffin, whose shop is actually on the old Southport GP circuit. Denis met him when he damaged a speedboat, and he felt that Rod did such a good repair job that he should have the opportunity to do the work on the car, something he had previously expressed a desire to do. Rod’s business, McGaffin Designs, centres mainly around speedboat manufacture and repairs, but is very flexible in its capabilities. The former New Zealander not only did the design and fibreglass work, but also formed all the Perspex and searched around to find the parts required to blend in with the agreed shape.” Racing Car News, February 1973 edition.

Geary would later offer his Lola T70 for sale. “This superb sports racer has been extensively and expensively converted for road use,” raved a magazine advertisement. “Well appointed, registered and a delight to drive.”

Two artist renderings of the Lola T70 are part of the McGaffin Design collection and have also been digitised.

Another highlight in the collection dates from 1974, when McGaffin Design undertook a contract with the Gold Coast City Council to design and install fibreglass mouldings at the Olympic Swimming Pool in Southport (now known as the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre). According to the Gold Coast City Council's 26th Annual Report and Financial Statements, the project was commissioned for $9,850. A project board featuring colour photographs documenting the installation is held in the collection and has also been digitised.

You can discover more about the McGaffin Design collection through One Search. Some of these materials have been digitised, while others can only be viewed onsite.