J. Thomas & Son

John Thomas commenced his coach building and wheelwright service in 1921 in East Street, just north of Brisbane Street. He was a coach builder and wheelwright by trade who had emigrated from the UK in 1913. John worked for F.W.Johnson & Son, W. Woodford, and A.E. Roberts before going into business for himself. 

Nine years after opening John moved the business to the corner of East and South Streets at 72 East Street (on the corner between Furniture Court on South Street and Centrelink and Medicare on East Street today). His son Jack entered the company around this time. When John died in 1952 his 3 sons Jack, Evan and Bob carried on his work. Bob was an apprentice mechanic at Faulkner Motors before joining the firm in 1970. 

This site was gutted by fire on 4 May 1978, necessitating a move.  BP East Street and a site at North Booval were used temporarily until a new large facility at 73 Lobb Street, Churchill was ready for occupation in 1981.

By 1991 J.Thomas & Son had more than 20 employees and the business had moved into panel beating, spray painting, and retail. John's son Bob was now the manager.

By 1997, three generations of the Thomas family had worked for the family company. 

In 2021 J.Thomas & Son are still operating at 73 Lobb Street and have transitioned into RV repairs.