They Profit who Serve Best
“The ongoing success of Galvins is attributed to our loyal customer base, of whom there are many thousands, and our dedicated staff who contribute so much” Roy Galvin
Mr Roy Galvin commenced business at 452 Murray Street, Perth on the 4th of March, 1933 which was during the great depression era and at that time had one employee which was Roy’s brother Len.
The company had a slow, but positive start and after two years of trading moved premises to 231 William Street, Perth in 1935. On either side of the new location were a butcher, grocer, wicker and a gun smith, all of whom were to be absorbed into the growing plumbing supply operation.
Behind the William Street shop was a brass foundry, Premier Engineering, in which Mr Roy Galvin and Mr Larry Duffy each shared a fifty percent ownership. Upon the retirement of Mr Duffy in 1967, Mr Galvin assumed full ownership, by which time in addition to producing brassware there was also various kinds of concrete plumbing products being produced.
Galvins continued growth saw the acquisition of other properties, until finally attaining a total area of six thousand eight hundred square metres which was bounded by William, Francis, Lake and James Streets. The company enjoyed ongoing success at this location until 1990, at which time Head Office was relocated to its current address of 3-5 Sundercombe Street, Osborne Park.
In addition to Head Office, Galvins have also developed a substantial branch network of twenty one stores which are conveniently located across Western Australia from Kununurra in the north, down to Busselton in the South West, and Darwin in the Northern Territory.
Along with the growing number of stores also came a growth in staff numbers which is now in excess of one hundred and fifty. Whilst numbers have increased it is with great pride that Galvins have maintained the experience level for which it is renowned throughout the plumbing industry.
Whilst achieving phenomenal growth throughout its eighty two years of trading, Galvins Plumbing Supplies has remained a wholly owned West Australian Family Company which has seen a succession of three generations which began with Roy Galvin, followed by John Galvin and is currently with Mark and David Galvin.
FOUNDED BY ROY GALVIN IN 1933
You, the customer, are the most important person in this business.
You, the customer, are not dependant on us, we are dependant on you.
You, the customer, are not an interruption to our work, you are the purpose of it.
We are not doing you a favour by serving you, you are doing us a favour by giving us the opportunity to do so.
You, the customer, are not someone with whom to argue or match wits with, nobody has won an argument with a customer.
You, the customer, are someone who brings us your wants, that is what a customer is, in our business or any other business.
25 Year Honour Board
Name,Time Served,Status
Galvin RJ,04.03.33 – 31.07.84, Retired
Galvin LM,04.03.33 – 04.12.75, Retired
Eves F,04.03.33 – 14.02.66, Retired
Foley M,09.07.33 – 04.11.66, Retired
Clarke EM,01.06.39 – 02.08.64, Retired
Galvin JR,01.12.49 – 30.01.98, Retired
Simms DE,09.10.53 – 10.09.93, Retired
Newham NF,11.01.54 – 25.11.87, Retired
Eves RJ,10.10.60 – 05.05.95, Retired
Leicester LD,26.01.60 – 28.01.00, Retired
Gorn AJ,31.07.61 – 24.09.04, Retired
Matthews EC,31.07.61 – 30.01.86, Retired
Fusco A,11.08.69 – 13.12.00, Retired
Green PR,13.07.70 – 15/01/2016, Retired
Beaton RE,14.12.70 – 07.07.05, Retired
Brown GJ,02.03.72 -, Serving
Bock FJ,07.03.72 -, Serving
Edwards. M,20.03.72 -, Serving
Bensley GJ,24.07.73 -, Serving
Johnston GN,02.12.74 -, Serving
Gates GF,11.08.75 – 05.07.03 , Retired
McComish LW,12.04.76 – 31.03.03 , Retired
Denkewitz G,06.07.76 – 11.05.07, Retired
Thompson KA,20.07.76 – 03.12.2014, Retired
Robins RJ,22.11.76 -, Serving
Lyttle MB,20.01.77 -, Serving
The Cleaners,31.05.77 -, Serving
Melville JD,07.03.78 – 11.11.05, Retired
Tope RG,12.02.81 – 13.03.07, Retired
Bone WD,18.01.83 – , Serving
Sayers JW,30.01.84 – , Serving
Dargan KN,30.04.84 -, Serving
Bennell DR,29.01.85 – , Serving
Galvins Store Openings
Branch,Commenced
452 Murray Street Perth, Mar 1933 [commenced]
231 William Street Perth, 1935
Branch,Commenced
Osborne Park, 1953
Willetton, July 1972
231 William St – Perth, 1977 [enlargement]
Osborne Park, 1977 [enlargement]
Wanneroo, Oct 1980
Bassedean, Oct 1988
Spearwood, Mar 1990
Pier Street – Perth, Jun 1990
Osborne Park, 1990 [head office relocation]
Port Hedland, Jan 1996
Busselton, Sep 1996
Nedlands, Feb 1997
Port Hedland, Jun 1997 [enlargement]
Kelmscott, Mar 2001
Karratha, Apr 2002
Perth – Aberdeen St, Oct 2004 [relocation]
Mandurah, Nov 2004
Broome, Apr 2007
Welshpool, Dec 2008
Clarkson, Mar 2009
Mandurah, Nov 2009 [relocation]
Port Hedland, Mar 2010 [enlargement]
Bunbury, May 2010
Karratha, Dec 2010 [enlargement]
Geraldton, Apr 2011
Kununurra, Mar 2012
Newman, Apr 2014
Darwin, Apr 2015
Rockingham, Mar 2016
