THIS is a story about a bulldozer. Not a large one (though it was for its day). Not even a particularly unique one. But one that has played its part in the story of one of Portland’s largest earthmoving businesses – despite spending plenty of time away from it.

And after more than 30 years away the Caterpillar D7E is back at Mibus Bros.

Not just back but restored almost as new to play its part for the next generation of the Mibus family.

The story of this bulldozer goes back to December 1967, when it was bought by the Portland Harbour Trust (now Port of Portland) and used at the quarry for about 15 years.

Martin Mibus, who along with his brothers Lewis and Andrew began to join their father Monty in the business from the late 1960s to early 1970s, takes up the story.

“We’d work with Dad and every now and then we’d put another worker on and get another (bulldozer) and so on until it’s built up to (the company today),” Martin Mibus said.

“This dozer was number five in the system we had.

“It came from the Harbour Trust in 1982 but after we took it on we were going to sell it because of a downturn in the business.

“Then Ash Wednesday came along in 1983 and things went from the bottom to the top of the heap.”

The dozer was immediately put to work cleaning up the damage from the fires and remained in service at Mibus Bros for about five years.

“Then we passed it on and went on to a bigger (dozer),” Mr Mibus said.

It was believed the bulldozer had a couple of owners since, before Mr Mibus saw it again about three years ago at Lake Goldsmith, west of Ballarat.

“A guy from Woodend owned it and I said ‘if you ever want to quit it we’ll buy it’,” Mr Mibus said.

“He rang me up about 12 months ago and we bought it back and cleaned and tidied it up, and it’s back after 32 years.”

But not just for show. The 180HP dozer, which was big in its day, will join about 10 or 11 other bigger machines in the Mibus Bros fleet.

“It’s still a serviceable working (bulldozer), not one the guys in here would work with but it’s one that we (the brothers) would work with pleasure,” Mr Mibus said.

“The third generation (of Mibus’) are pretty keen to have a fiddle with it as well, it is a bit different.”