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Plumber Profile
In our last issue, we profiled a plumbing business that had been in the game since 1878. Here's another business with a long history...
RITCHIE FAMILY OF PLUMBERS
Four generations of Ritchies have been operating in Box Hill Victoria since 1887 - originally trading as A. Ritchie IRON MONGER.
(Plumbers were called Iron Mongers back in the day).
The business started in a workshop on Whitehorse Rd - on dirt floors.
It was hard work, with the manufacturing of heavy duty cast iron and steel pipes, manual cutting and threading and lead joints and lead burning.
Pipes were Terra Cotta and cement jointed and of course everything was dug by hand.
In the 1930s the next generation joined the business - which was then named A.G.Ritchie.
In 1968, Arthur Ritchie - the next generation started out as 'Ritchies United
Group.' Arthur's father continued to work untill retirement in the 1980s.
The business is now called BOX HILL PLUMBING SERVICES with Arthur clocking up 55 years at the helm. He is still working and enjoyingi it- "it keeps you young and alert" says Arthur.
B.T.Ritchie - The Fourth generation will one day take over the reigns and let Arthur relax!
Do you have an interesting yarn about your business?
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