From Mr Whippy to Mr Softy: Our Melbourne Ice Cream Van Story

The first generation of our family began operating a Mr Whippy ice cream van in 1968 on a part-time basis, while also working at the General Motors vehicle assembly plant in Dandenong, which was far more rural in those days.

The van traded outside Myer on Bourke Street. In those early years, as many as 50 Mr Whippy vans could line Bourke Street, reflecting the extraordinary excitement and demand for Mr Whippy ice cream.

On weekends, our family van traded outside the Victorian Arts Centre on St Kilda Road, where queues often stretched between 50 and 100 metres as people waited to enjoy a freshly served ice cream.

When the Mr Whippy fleet was sold to its drivers, the family van was rebranded as Mr Softy to establish its own identity and avoid confusion with the many independently operated Mr Whippy vans now on the road.

Life as an ice cream van operator was very different then. The main trading requirement was a hawker’s permit issued by the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, and vans could trade almost anywhere, provided they remained at least 150 metres from an established shop.

Those were the memorable days when ice cream vans travelled through neighbourhood streets playing their familiar music. Children would rush from their homes, often calling for the driver to stop, excited to spend their pocket money on a freshly served ice cream.

As responsibility for regulating ice cream vans shifted from the State Government to local councils in the late 1970s, the industry began to change dramatically. Annual permit fees that had once cost approximately $4 rose in some municipalities to thousands of dollars.

Councils introduced designated trading locations, substantial site fees and heavy penalties for operating outside approved areas. These changes made the traditional neighbourhood street rounds increasingly difficult and, in many areas, brought them to an end. Many long-established ice cream van operators ultimately closed their businesses for good.

The family business adapted to these changing conditions. Rather than relying solely on street trading, the classic van began attending weddings, community fundraisers, television and fashion productions, events at Crown Casino and major corporate campaigns—opening an exciting new chapter in the Mr Softy story.

By this time, Mr Softy was operating an ice cream van manufacturing facility in Tottenham, Victoria. Hundreds of vans were built there and delivered to owners throughout Australia. Many of these independently owned vans became part of the Mr Softy national network, attending events and serving customers within their local regions.

Innovation remained central to the family business. Drawing on electronics experience gained overseas, the second generation of the family began incorporating green-energy technology into newly built vans as early as 2005—well before renewable energy and sustainable vehicle operation became mainstream.

After almost five decades of service, the historic family van was retired in 2016 because replacement parts could no longer be sourced to keep it safely and reliably on the road. Although the classic van’s working life had come to an end, its legacy continued through the new generation of vans and operators across Australia.

Mr Softy remains proudly family owned and continues serving events throughout Australia. Today’s ice cream vans are built using brand-new, state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz vehicles and fitted with premium Carpigiani ice cream machines from Italy.

At the Mr Softy van-building facility, decades of experience and innovation have refined the use of green-energy technology. While catering at an event, the vans do not rely on petrol or diesel generators to power their serving equipment. This makes them suitable for many approved indoor venues, subject to each venue’s access, safety and operating requirements.

As the event-catering business expanded, Mr Softy made a significant investment in custom-built software to manage the growing volume of bookings and coordinate drivers throughout Australia.

Every driver in the Mr Softy network follows the same national pricing structure, helping provide consistent service and value regardless of location. Provided the nearest available van is within 50 kilometres, the base event price is consistent across Australia, subject to any applicable travel or special-event charges.

Now operated by the third generation of the family, Mr Softy continues the tradition that began in 1968. We are proud to bring the Mr Softy experience to communities across Australia, and we hope that one day the fourth generation will carry the family tradition forward.