Hardy Brothers

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Hardy Brothers
Type Private Company
Industry Retail
Founded 1853, Sydney, Australia
Founder(s) John Hardy
Headquarters Brisbane, Australia
Area served Sydney
Brisbane
Melbourne
Perth
Products Jewellery, timepeices and decorative arts
Website Official website

Hardy Brothers is a specialty retailer of fine jewellery, timepeices and decorative arts in Australia. Its historic products are now highly collectible[1] and are held in state and national collections.[2] It is the only Australian jewellery business to hold a Royal Warrant and since 1980 has produced the Melbourne Cup.[3]

History

Hardy Brothers  was founded in 1853 by John Hardy, an Englishman newly arrived in Sydney, Australia.[4] In 1855, the business moved to Hunter Street, Sydney and remained there until 1935.[5] In 1894, the business expanded to Queensland with the opening of a store in Queen Street, Brisbane. A store was opened in Collins Street, Melbourne, in 1918.[2] In 1929, Hardy Brothers were appointed jewellers by Royal Warrant to His Majesty King George V. The business remained in family control until 1974 and was then taken over in 1980 by Quintex and controlled by that company until 1988. It was then bought by the McKinney family[6] and lastly by Wallace Bishop in 1997. Wallace Bishop is a family owned jewellery company established in 1917 and now run by the fourth generation. Stuart Bishop is the current CEO.[7] [8]

Managing directors

The Collins Street Melbourne Store
  • John Hardy[4]
  • Walter Hardy[4]
  • Percy Hardy[4]
  • Richard Hardy[4]

Chief executives

  • Jack Leckie[4]
  • Harry Quayle[4]
  • Arthur Sims[4]
  • John McKinney[9]
  • Stuart Bishop[10]

Stores

  • 44 Queen Street, Brisbane
  • 60 Castlereagh Street, Sydney
  • 345 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood Chase
  • 338 Collins Street, Melbourne
  • 1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone
  • 100 St Georges Tce Perth

Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup is produced each year by Hardy Brothers and is made from a single plate of 18 carat yellow gold. It takes 220 craftsman hours to complete. The trophy becomes the property of the winning owner. In the event of a dead heat a second cup is on hand.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Carter's price guide to antiques
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Powerhouse Museum
  3. ↑ The loving cup trophy
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 By Appointment (Gail Franzmann – The Macmillan Company of Australia, 1980)
  5. ↑ "HARDY BROTHERS.". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) (NSW: National Library of Australia). 17 December 1898. p. 12. Retrieved 1 May 2013. 
  6. ↑ McKinney's — Timeline
  7. ↑ The Courier-Mail Queensland jewellers Wallace Group still prospering after four generations
  8. ↑ ""BY APPOINTMENT TO THE QUEEN".". The Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982) (1933 - 1982: National Library of Australia). 26 November 1980. p. 16. Retrieved 30 April 2013. 
  9. ↑ The Courier-Mail John McKinney reminisces about his history in the jewellery business
  10. ↑ Diamond Guide
  11. ↑ Hardy Brothers — Melbourne Cup

External links

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