That is how it was from the time you could option a 4spd on a Holden commercial (HK around 7/68) to HX release, ie there was no console shift outside of Sandman (of course Sandman only from 1974-the end of HJ). Commercials got floor shift ie no console. If you optioned buckets or buckets and auto you got a seat separator (ie 3spd manual or column auto) but if you optioned buckets and 4spd it was blank between the seats. The only exception where floor shift 4spd came standard was when you optioned 307 or 308 on a commercial. In HK-HG if you optioned 307 or 308 and didn't also option auto transmission, buckets were mandatory but in HQ-HZ you could have 308 manual with a bench seat.
Once HX came around console shift was optional on commercials (manual or auto) but I don't think you could get it on cab-chassis.