Former clerical worker Stu Penny said the workshop had been the "fabric of South Dunedin society".
Each year, for the past 35 years, the clerical workers had got together for a pre-Christmas luncheon, a tradition that continued even after the workshops closed down and some former workers moved away.
The workers had formed a strong bond and a real sense of comradeship developed, Mr Penny said.
This week the building where they had forged their connections will be demolished as part of a programme to redevelop the site.
When Mr Penny started in 1961 there had been about 870 workers at Hillside. Later there were about 1000.
The clerical workers had to calculate about 120 different allowances the workforce was entitled to and put the pay packets together, all by hand.
It was important they got things right as they were answerable to the union, Mr Penny said.
Former clerical worker Beverly Kornyei (83) said it was "quite exciting" to be back at the same spot they had worked so many years ago.
It had been a good place to work and she had stayed at the pay office for about 10 years.
She had fond memories of when they brought in a new adding machine in the 1950s.
Heather Gordon (84) now lived in the Blue Mountains in Australia. The reunion had been on hold for three years due to Covid-19 and she was pleased to be back, although it was "very sad" to see the old building where they used to work on the verge of being pulled down.
Her father had worked in the foundry and like many of the former clerical workers, she had started there as a 16-year-old in her first job, and had stayed for eight years.
Mary O’Leary started her clerical job in 1959, and stayed for seven years.
She met her future husband, fitter Stewart Aiken, through the social basketball club.
While she was pleased a new workshop was under construction on the site, "they should never have closed it down", Mrs O’Leary said.
