Sutton's Foundry

Allan Godfrey Sutton started A. G. Sutton Pty Ltd. in 1929. Prior to starting his own business Sutton was employed at F. E. Barbat's foundry at North Ipswich. Initially he cast stove lids by himself but that did not last long. He then employed a furnaceman and an apprentice and by June 1929 they had won a contract with Ipswich City Council to supply castings.

The business was known locally as Sutton's foundry. Allan is described as being the Managing Director of this business in earlier years. In 1949 the name changed from A. G. Sutton Pty Ltd to simply A. G. Sutton with Allan being sole proprietor until about 1962.

After World War II Suttons moved from central Ipswich to Brassall. The foundry was located on a couple of acres of land on the banks of Mihi Creek, variously described as existing on Pine Mountain Road or Fernvale Road, Brassall. As an iron and metal foundry,  pipes, drain connections and iron castings were produced. As well as water and sewerage treatment plant components, power house fittings, and coal washing plants were made. As the business progressed Sutton's also make their own moulds, had a pattern shop on the premises, and a second furnace was installed in 1979. In the early 1960s the foundry suppled pipes and valves for Bulimba and Tennyson powerhouses. They built swimming pools in Queensland and northern New South Wales around this time as well,  and performed jobs as far afield as Perth, Darwin and Thursday Island.

All classes of foundry and castings were produced and in 1949 Sutton's manufactured 500 tons of castings. The foundry saw its fair share of industrial accidents over the years. Ironically Allan was involved in an industrial accident himself in 1913 when employed at F. E. Barbat & Sons foundry at North Ipswich.

Sutton's went from strength to strength and became a major employer in Ipswich. In 1950 they had a staff of 30, 55 in 1962, increasing to between 200 and 300 by 1983. That year was also notable because the Queensland government pledged $5 million to bail the company out of financial difficulties. The company's fortunes must have declined from here because the Catalyst Church purchased the site in 1986. Modern industrial buildings have been re-purposed for use by the church group. The largest foundry building has been named The Foundry and is used as a meeting space. It is listed in the Ipswich Heritage Study.

As well as being a businessman, Allan Sutton was elected to Ipswich City Council from 1933-1939 serving as alderman , Deputy Mayor in 1936, and Mayor in 1938-1939. He lived in Brassall close to the foundry. Sutton Park in Hunter Street, Brassall is named after him.