Since 1912
1911: The very beginning of the Hutchies journey
Hutchies
1912: J. Hutchinson is established
Whilst Jack probably found work when he arrived on Australian shores in 1911, Hutchies
1914: First CBD project
Jack survived his early days in Australia by winning local government work. This changed in 1914 when he won a contract to construct his first CBD building for a private company - a substantial new brick warehouse.
1915: Active in the community right from the start
Jack I
1920s
1920: 'Hutchie'
From as early as anyone can remember, Jack I was simply referred to as
1921: Hutchies
Within a decade, Jack I was considered an experienced and successful businessman by his peers. Jack's first known business premises was located at his home in Manly (pictured), but in 1921, he decided to purchase a more centrally located office & yard for Hutchies on Montague Road in South Brisbane.
1923: Business is prosperous & reputable
Hutchies won the prestigious 7000 seat Ernest Baynes Grandstand which remains part of the RNA Showgrounds today.
1924: Diverse, wide-reaching portfolio of work
Hutchies was building everything it could take on
1930s
1930: President of the Qld MBA
Jack I entered the Qld Master Builders and became President
1932: Jack II & Lily Collins
Jack II married Lily Collins in 1932 and two years later on October 17, Jack III (Jack Snr) was born. Sadly, two days later, Jack I
1937: Murwillimbah Hospital
Hutchies began work on Murwillimbah Hospital in 1937. It was opened in August 1939 and at the time was one of the most modern and cutting edge hospitals in regional Australia. Standing at a hefty 15 metres, it was the biggest structure ever raised in the district.
1938: New father & sons partnership
By the late 1930s, Jack I still owned 100% of the business. Jack II and Eric finally decided to approach their father for a partnership after 15 years managing the business. J Hutchinson & Sons was officially formed.
1939: Qld
Despite enduring the Great Depression and the onset of World War II, J Hutchinson continued to prosper with 400 company members.
1940s
1940: Narrow escape
Disaster almost struck Hutchies when a large fire broke out next door to its office and yard. Luckily a quick response from the fire brigade saved the company from a huge loss.
1942: The arrival of World War II
War came to Australia in 1942 and Brisbane was seen as a strategic target during this time. Urgent action was taken to protect the population in case of air raids.
1943: Protecting Brisbane
In less than 12 months, Hutchies had built 14 major air raid shelters in the Brisbane CBD & surrounds.
1944: War time contracts
The war didn
1945: Post-war change of focus
After the war ended, the company took up the opportunity to support the bustling manufacturing sector by diversifying its portfolio to construct more industrial buildings.
1949: Jack II
With Hutchies recognised as a highly respected and significant player in the industry, it maintained a good book of work. Jack II moved into the six bedroom family holiday home in Surfer
1950s
1951: Jack III
At the young age of 17, Jack III aka Jack Snr attended his first Hutchies Christmas party at the Baroona Labor Hall in Caxton Street, Paddington. This is where the lanky, sandy-haired schoolboy first caught sight of his future wife
1952: And then there were 3
Jack left school to become an apprentice carpenter and became close with June after partnering her in a three-legged race at a company picnic. 6 years later, they married and John Scott Hutchinson arrived soon after. Lindy, Wendy and Kenneth became Scott
1955: Company downturn & an uncertain future
Despite all that was happening for Hutchies as a family, the 50s were not the best time for the business
1960s
1960: What should Jack III do?
Jack III was working for the department of works at the Qld Government in a secure position. His father, Jack II, urged his son to stay in his job rather than take a chance leaving to help with the ailing family business. The company was lagging behind with uptake of technology and although still won some projects on the back of its reputation, Hutchies was slow to adapt to change.
1961: Problem project makes matters even worse
Costs on the Camden project blew out and the apartments were slow to sell. Hutchies was left with a large debt which was very troubling in its current weak financial state. Jack II was able to negotiate an overdraft to keep the company afloat but Hutchies was struggling to win new work.
1964: Doom & Gloom
It was dark days for Hutchies as a whole, with Jack I passing away on April 27, 1964
1966: Jack III's decision
After realising his father and uncle were facing financial ruin, Jack III resigned from his secure job with the Qld department of works, bought a second hand ute and took on a carpenter
1967: The shake-up
Jack III visited the company
1968: It only took 47 years
It was at this time that Jack III officially took over from his father & uncle as they settled down into retirement. Jack III instigated a move to a new office, the Plaza Theatre located in Paddington, 47 years after Jack I had first bought the Montague Road premises.
1969: Ending the decade on a high note
Under Jack III
1970s
It was...
...a long...
...road back...
...but Hutchies did it!
Over the subsequent years, with Jack Snr at the helm, Hutchies once again revelled in the respect and esteem of the business and building communities. The 70s were challenging years for the industry as a whole under the new Whitlam Federal Labor Government, but Hutchies managed to continue to ride out the tough times.
1975: Finding opportunity in difficult jobs
Jack III capitalised on building work that other builders would not take on due to difficulty or remote location. Hutchies had its own employees skilled up to carry out these intricate projects and developed a reputation for completing projects of great complexity.
1976: Growth spurt
Despite some tough times during the decade, Hutchies quickly outgrew its Paddington Plaza address and established a new office & yard at Seventeen Mile Rocks
1980s
1981: Enter Scott
From an early age, John Scott Hutchinson, or just Scott as he is known, knew he wanted to be involved in the family construction business. In the early 80s, Scott completed his Bachelor of Civil Engineering at the University of Qld.
1984: The travel bug
Scott then took off on an adventure with his mates overseas, travelling in a VW Kombi van. He returned to Australia in 1985 after having seen much of Europe, the UK and North Africa and then completed his MBA.
1985: Value of repeat business
Hutchies learnt the value of repeat business and if that meant following a client anywhere and completing any project no matter how small or large, it did. The client became the focus of the business, a company philosophy that has remained unchanged ever since.
1986: Scott the Salesman
Scott started with Hutchies full time in 1986. His first task was to put on his salesman
1987: A new image
Hutchies' current logo was designed when Scott realised the company had no official symbol. Scott decided on a simple process blue because it represented quality and bold letters because they gave a solid impression, symbolic of strong buildings & a strong company. The badge of honour that denotes Hutchies
1987: 75 years young
In 1987, Hutchies began its 5 yearly tradition of celebrating milestone birthdays with a Gala function for its 75th at the Tattersall
1987: Socialising, all part of the plan
In the same year as the 75th, company members, Len White & Barry Butterworth, approached Hutchies to form a social club which would help finance company events. A fishing trip that has become an annual team-bonding event was the first official social club excursion. Hutchies now has over 700 social club members and hosts about 50 other events purely to promote socialising amongst company members, clients, subbies and suppliers every year.
1987: Driving good culture
It was also at this time that Scott introduced the idea of buying cars for company members. Hutchies now has a company owned fleet of over 300 vehicles.
1988: Big building confidence
Hutchies completed a refurbishment for Lennon
1990s
1991: Scott & Mary-Jeanne Peabody
The first big event in Hutchies
1992: Consolidation & prosperity
After the marriage, it was time to think about the future direction of Hutchies. Most of the company
1992: Movement on the board
In 1992, Jack Snr became Chairman of the board and Scott took over his post as Managing Director
1993: Truth be told
Hutchies' infamous newsletter 'The Truth' was first conceptualised in 1993 by Jack Snr who said "let's do it properly with the help of Lindy (Scott
1995: Getting rid of the hierarchy
In 1995, Scott made a bold move to alter the structure of Hutchies and ever since, it has been known for its flat line management. Teams operate autonomously allowing team leaders to effectively grow their own businesses independent of the board of directors. Clients enjoy this style of management as they can pick which team they work best with.
1997: Time after time
Scott continued the tradition of celebrating milestone birthdays with both the 80th and 85th held once again at the Tattersall
1999: International capability
It was during the 90s that Hutchies also demonstrated its ability to work on an international scale by building the award winning Craggy Range Winery in NZ (pictured), as well as an $8M Orion Buses factory and $60M Western Star Trucks office headquarters, both in Canada.
2000s
2001: A new Managing Director to lead the way
October 2001 marked a significant change to Hutchies
2001: Jack Snr
2001 also marked 30 years at the helm for Jack Snr, who took the liberty of retiring, allowing Scott to take control of the position of Chairman.
2005: Good times
The 2000s and the changes in the board brought in lots of new work for the company including the landmark $99M M on Mary residential tower project
2006: Resiliency in downturn
Earlier structural changes and a different strategic approach from the board meant Hutchies was resilient when the industry took a hit in 2006 and entered a downturn. Hutchies increased its core tradespeople and disciplines, added cranes, scaffolding & prefab to its books and set up its own training operation in order to encourage the Hutchies
2007: New Horizons
Hutchies celebrated its 95th at its brand new purpose built office in Toowong Qld, and further down the east coast, opened its Sydney office. The new offices represented Hutchies
2007: A demonstration of capability
Hutchies built Australia
2008: A global financial crisis
Hutchies was lucky during the GFC, having built its strengths up over many years which came to the fore during these tough couple of years. It had strong buying power, loyal subbies, competitive pricing, a spread of locally owned offices and a reputation for quality work & financial independence. Developers and financiers had confidence in Hutchies and directed more business its way.
2010s
2010: Accolades for Jack Snr
Unfortunately, late in 2009, Jack Snr suffered a mild stroke while playing golf but recovered well in time for his 75th birthday. Accolades for his lifelong dedication to the industry started to flow in
2010: Activity in all sectors & all locations
Since the GFC, Hutchies
2011: Evolution & recognition
Although Hutchies
2011: A rising star... or not
Scott made his reality TV show debut on Undercover Boss in 2011
2012: One hundred years
2012 marked a centenary in operation for Hutchies
2012: Reputational advances
Hutchies
Now
Now: Steady growth & strong position
Hutchies remains a stable, quality force in the building industry. The company has $250M in cash & assets and is heading into its 105th year with over 180 projects on its books, taken care of by its 22 Team Leaders around the country. Hutchies has never been in a better position.
Now: Jack V (Jack Jnr)
Jack V, more commonly known as Jack Jnr, has joined the company and is now working in the John Berlese team as a Contracts Administrator. He is also firmly embedded in all of the board's activities, learning the ropes off his Dad & other directors who are mentoring him into the future role of Chairman.
Now: Into the clouds
In 2015, Hutchies signed on for its largest project yet which is still currently under construction
Now: Melbourne Expansion
Radical changes to Hutchies' Melbourne office also occured in 2015, with the appointment of three new Team Leaders to expand Hutchies
Bernie Nolan
Team Leader
Ben McArthur
Team Leader
Dan Casey
Team Leader
Now: New additions
In 2016, Hutchies welcomed Russell Fryer and Owen Valmadre onto the board of directors, bringing the number of Hutchies
Now: Building Brisbane's bar scene
Scott converted an old wartime bunker into a music venue called The Triffid in Newstead which he is now landlord of. John Collins (JC) from band Powderfinger runs the bar and has become Hutchies
Now: More than just builders
Scott has realised a dream of becoming an amateur beekeeper, installing hives on every Hutchies
Now: Cool new office
Early 2017 saw the completion of a brand new office in Coolangatta for our Gold Coast / Tweed team, headed up by Paul Hart and Levi Corby. Everyone is thrilled with the result, especially as it