This is a brief commentary about the two men who formed the partnership of Slattery & Acquroff Holdings in 1920.
Ted Slattery was born in Melbourne in 1874 and spent some time in South Africa before coming back to settle down in Melbourne with his wife and family of two sons and a daughter. He died in Fitzroy aged sixty-four in 1938. A son aged ninety and a daughter aged ninety-six are still alive in 2004.
Alec Acquroff was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1890, and at the approximate age of twenty, came to Australia in 1912 as part of a world trip. He worked as a stairbuilder until that time.
At the commencement of World War I in 1914, Alec enlisted in the Australian Army and served until the completion of the war. He married in 1919 and was the father of one son and two daughters. The daughters are both still alive in 2004. Alec died in 1962 aged seventy-two.
When Alec arrived in Melbourne, he was delighted to see a soccer match being played - he joined the club and commenced playing. The president of the soccer club was a Mr. Robert Bathgate, a very successful and talented tinsmith. He had a daughter Jean, who following an accident to her hip, was confined to a wheelchair and trolley stretcher. A courtship began, but was interrupted by the 1914 - 1918 World War of which Alec had become a member of the Armed Forces.
On the completion of the war, they were married, only on the condition that Jean could walk down the aisle.
About this time, Alec met Ted Slattery whilst working for E.E. Jones stair builder of St. Kilda Road, Melbourne. In 1920, they decided to go into partnership together. Robert Bathgate lived at 32 Palermo Street, South Yarra - at the rear of the premises was a stable, and this was where the partnership commenced.
Ernie Jones was the father of Eric Jones, who many years later, worked for Slattery & Acquroff before commencing his own company, which to this day still bears his name.
Alec and Jean bought a home at 21 Rosstown Road, Carnegie, and this is where they started their married life, based on honesty, integrity and generosity. These were the same principles that laid the foundation of the partnership with Ted Slattery.
Many stairs and handrails were installed in and around Melbourne, and prospects were looking good. That is until 1929 with the advent of the world depression.
Times were tough, but the same principles were upheld and maintained, goods and supplies were transported in wheelbarrows to wherever the need arose. Staircases were not in demand during those days - many tasks performed by the partners were not always paying jobs.
During the next few years, the Myer, Coles, Sargood, Clark, Nicholas, Grimwade, and other wealthy families started to spend their money, and work became plentiful.
During this time, a new factory was built to replace the stable, and some machinery was purchased. This machine was a combination buzzer, ripsaw, cross cut, bandsaw, but only one could be used at a time.
Ted Slattery died of an illness at quite a young age in 1938. Ted had a son who later became Managing Director and owner of Australian Terrazo Company.
Jack Acquroff (son of Alec) commenced working for his father three years before the Second World War (he had previously worked in a bank). He soon volunteered for war service, and enlisted in the Royal Australian Engineers, a section of the A.I.F. specially for tradesmen, and was soon building bridges in New Guinea and surrounding islands. He was later flown home to Melbourne to assist his father on the completion of timber handrails at the newly erected
Royal Melbourne Hospital in readiness for the occupancy of the American Armed Forces in 1942. Jack returned to active duty and the factory was closed for the duration of the war - Alec went to work as a pattern maker at the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation. He wasn't happy working there as not enough work was provided for him.
At the end of the war (late 1945), the factory was reopened by Alec with Albert Forsyth, Eric Jones and George Beard commencing as the company's first apprentice. The retired Robert Bathgate worked as a labourer cum handyman, and could adapt his many skills to projects around the factory. At this stage, Jack had not returned from active duty.
The first contract after the war was not a staircase, but a large octagonal showcase built as a feature under the grand dome of the original Melbourne Library and Museum in Swanston Street. This was to house a large display of minature ships from all around the world.
At the end of 1947, the Australian Government devised a plan to assist tradesmen and their families to migrate to this country.
British and European families soon started to arrive with many looking for work as carpenters and joiners, all with names unfamiliar to us Australians. Otto, Bruno, Karl, Kurt, Albrick, Fritz, Werner, Rainer, Gunter, Heinz and Hans just to name a few. Two older Scotsmen were employed at this time, one being the father of the manager of present day Metricon. A grandson and great grandson of Otto are still in our employ at time of writing.
These newcomers spoke very little English, apart from the two Scots, and all knew little about stairs, but because of their skills, they soon adapted. Many later went on to form their own businesses. These workers were made to feel welcome in this country - we became one great cosmopolitan family helping each other along the way, encouraging these young men to follow the standards, principals and workmanship created by Alec and Ted many years ago.
Large properties in and around Melbourne were being cut up and sub-divided. Toorak, South Yarra, East Melbourne, Kew, Brighton and Caulfield - all because of the value of the land, large two storey homes were being built.
The small factory had reached its limit, and the house at the front of the factory had become vacant. Walls were removed, beams installed and the house became the workshop. The old factory became the machine shop as new machines had been purchased. Some years later, the house was demolished and a new factory covering the whole area was erected, including a double storey addition comprising office and lunchroom.
By the early sixties, South Yarra was becoming trendy and the old pensioners were being replaced by tenants who didn't like our noise or dust, and we had many visits from the EPA, necessitating testing of noise levels - all to which were always below the required level.
A block of land was purchased at Bando Road, Westall with the intention of building a factory in the future.
At this time, Melbourne was spreading - market gardens and orchards were making way for subdivisions and new homes were being built in the new suburbs being formed. The city of Melbourne was booming. Temple Court in Collins Street was the first Glass House (6 floors), ICI Building the tallest (25 floors), National Mutual Building on the
Western Market site, the Southern Cross Hotel on the Eastern Market site (both these sites had previously been run down and derelict), and many others featured our work.
The handrails at Tullamarine Airport was our largest contract at the stage, many stairs were made and installed at the MCG in readiness for the Olympic Games in 1956. Stairs and handrails were also featured in many buildings and hospitals in country towns, including many restored staircases in Heritage Listed Buildings, including the Ozone, Grand, Royal Hotels all in historic Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula.
The new Parliament House in Canberra, Parliament House in Melbourne, Melbourne Town Hall and the Cultural Centre, as well as buildings in Hobart, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane all have Slattery & Acquroff stairs or balustrades. Many of the large shopping centres in Melbourne and suburbs also feature our work.
Alec Acquroff died in 1962 aged 72, and just prior to his death, the partnership became a private company with all shares in the company being held by the Acquroff and Beard families. Robert Acquroff (son of Jack, grandson of Alec) commenced work in December 1968 with Robert Beard (son of George) in January 1970 - both young men learning the trade (as did many of the young workers commencing around this time), mostly coming from contacts with Jack Acquroff and George Beard, and the Churches, Boys Clubs, and sporting clubs to which they were associated. Many remain with the company and are valued members of the management system.
Jack Acquroff retired in 1984 with a dinner held at the Willows in St. Kilda Road in recognition of his service to the company.
The factory was sold in 1984 and a factory was leased in Age Street, Moorabbin for five years. Just prior to this time, Williams Staircases were purchased and for some time, we also operated out of the premises at Richard Street, Nunawading.
A large factory was purchased at 7 Edgecombe Court, Moorabbin, and after some years, leased the twin factory next door, as well as leasing a factory at Southport on the Gold Coast. A more recent addition is the Sydney branch to the East Coast chain.
At the end of 1995, a dinner comprising staff, travellers, friends and relatives, celebrated seventy-five years in business as well as appreciation of George Beard's retirement after fifty years continuous service.
The business has grown considerably, now employing eighty-nine staff members in the three states. Slattery & Acquroff, under the leadership of Robert Acquroff and Robert Beard, are still renowned for their excellence in the craft of staircase building. Whilst methods of manufacture are poles apart from those employed years ago when Alec and Ted set out by themselves, the philosophy is exactly the same. That is, to supply the best available product at the best possible price to our customers.
The shingle bearing their names has been mounted and is placed in a prominent position at Edgecombe Court, Moorabbin.
At the commencement of World War I in 1914, Alec enlisted in the Australian Army and served until the completion of the war. He married in 1919 and was the father of one son and two daughters. The daughters are both still alive in 2004. Alec died in 1962 aged seventy-two.
When Alec arrived in Melbourne, he was delighted to see a soccer match being played - he joined the club and commenced playing. The president of the soccer club was a Mr. Robert Bathgate, a very successful and talented tinsmith. He had a daughter Jean, who following an accident to her hip, was confined to a wheelchair and trolley stretcher. A courtship began, but was interrupted by the 1914 - 1918 World War of which Alec had become a member of the Armed Forces.
On the completion of the war, they were married, only on the condition that Jean could walk down the aisle.
During the next few years, the Myer, Coles, Sargood, Clark, Nicholas, Grimwade, and other wealthy families started to spend their money, and work became plentiful.
The small factory had reached its limit, and the house at the front of the factory had become vacant. Walls were removed, beams installed and the house became the workshop. The old factory became the machine shop as new machines had been purchased. Some years later, the house was demolished and a new factory covering the whole area was erected, including a double storey addition comprising office and lunchroom.
By the early sixties, South Yarra was becoming trendy and the old pensioners were being replaced by tenants who didn't like our noise or dust, and we had many visits from the EPA, necessitating testing of noise levels - all to which were always below the required level.
A block of land was purchased at Bando Road, Westall with the intention of building a factory in the future.
A large factory was purchased at 7 Edgecombe Court, Moorabbin, and after some years, leased the twin factory next door, as well as leasing a factory at Southport on the Gold Coast. A more recent addition is the Sydney branch to the East Coast chain.
At the end of 1995, a dinner comprising staff, travellers, friends and relatives, celebrated seventy-five years in business as well as appreciation of George Beard's retirement after fifty years continuous service.
