Cuthberts Plumbing

Cuthberts Plumbing was an Ipswich business which operated from 1891 to 2012 and was run by four successive generations of the Cuthbert family.

On the 8th of July 1891, Ipswich native John Cuthbert founded the company and set up in Ellenborough Street. In 1929, two storefronts were built on the property of 17 Ellenborough Street by the road in front of the large warehouse from which Cuthberts Plumbers operated. Though this was not the permanent location of the business, the storefront at  17 1/2 Ellenborough Street retains the original facade inscription 'Cuthbert Building'.

With John Cuthbert as owner, Cuthberts Plumbing would notably perform work for St Mary's Hall in 1901, St Mary's Church itself in 1904, the North Ipswich band Rotunda in 1908, the National Hall in Booval in 1914, the Public Works Department, Mundubbera Hospital and Biggenden Hospital for the Central Burnett Hospitals Board of Gayndah in 1929, the Central Chambers Building in Ipswich in 1931, and the Railway Department. John's brother, Charles Lloyd Cuthbert, worked in the business from an unknown time until 1925 when Charles worked for himself.

On the 8th of July 1943, John Cuthbert retired at the age of 79 and the running of the business was passed down to his son, Lloyd Oswald (Ossie) Cuthbert. Two more generations of Cuthberts would run the business.

The business would relocate to West Ipswich in Clay Street and finally to Pound Street, where it remained until its final closure by husband and wife Bill and Vicki Cuthbert at their retirement in 2012.

Under Bill and Vicki's ownership, Cuthberts Plumbing performed work for the RAAF Base in Amberley.

Both Bill and his great-grandfather John had similar things to say about their employees at the times of their retirement; both were quoted as being very pleased with the long-lasting relationships they had enjoyed with their employees. John mentioned his employee Bob White, who had, by 1943, worked for Cuthberts Plumbing for 35 years. Bill explained about Ross Hall, who retired in 2010 after being with the business since his apprenticeship in 1964, and Pauline Mulkerin, who had worked in the office for over 40 years.