THE final curtain will fall for iconic joinery business M.S Hein and Sons after operating in Mount Gambier for 74 years.
While it doors will close later this month, the business will remain in the history books as one of the city’s most enduring enterprises.
The business – which has crafted timber doors, window frames and kitchens for hundreds of regional homes – has also been an important training avenue for apprentices.
Walking through their workshop on Ramsay Avenue, business partners Laurie Judd and Robert Knightly overflow with “mixed emotions” and nostalgia.
The scent of freshly cut timber floats through the workshop that has a number of handcrafted timber door frames ready to be freighted to a regional home renovation.
Mr Judd candidly told The Border Watch it would be sad day when the long-running chapter of their lives closes.
He expressed his disappointment the business – which had a niche market particularly for heritage homes and buildings – could not be sold to a new operator to ensure its longevity.
But he revealed the Ramsay Avenue property had been sold.
“I am sad about the business closing. We tried for four years to sell the business – the last day will be sad knowing it will shut,” Mr Judd said.
He said the company had been an important outlet for regional builders who wanted to access custom-made timber doors and windows.
In particular, the company specialises in replicating heritage doors and windows.
“We have done of this work in Mount Gambier, Robe, Penola, Naracoorte and Port Fairy. We did a lot of the heritage-style shopfronts at Port Fairy,” Mr Judd added.
While the company had nearly 20 employees at its peak, the workforce has been shrinking in recent years.
“When I started in the business, we used to do all the window frames for the Housing Trust. They would make a set of windows in a day during those days,” Mr Knightly recalled.
He described it as a bustling and productive workshop.
“Since I have been with the business, I think we have trained around 60 apprentices,” Mr Knightly said.
Mr Knightly started as an apprentice in 1967 fresh from school and Mr Judd joined as a tradesman in 1972.
Through the decades, the two men have witnessed the evolution of mechanisation – from hammer and nail to compressed-air or gas nail guns – and the computerisation of timber cutting.
While Mr Judd dreamt of being a mechanic as a young man, he never looked back after joining M.S Hein and Sons.
This sentiment was also echoed by Mr Knightly, who said the business had been an important part of their lives.
“When I was at technical college I enjoyed metal and woodwork, it did not worry me whether I went down the road of the metal engineering side or joinery. I was offered this job first, so I took it and have been here ever since,” Mr Knightly added.
Reminiscing over their enduring vocations, Mr Knightly described the appeal of timber as” timeless”.
While the company will leave a lasting legacy in homes across the region, its expert craftsmanship will also leave a footprint across the commercial
sector.
The company – which has been inducted in the Mount Gambier Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame – undertook large scale projects at schools, hospitals, dental clinics, nursing homes as well as the Coonawarra wine district.
“We would like to thank our customers and suppliers for their patronage over many years as well as present and past staff,” Mr Knightly said.
The business began in 1946 in Wehl Street North by Merlyn Hein, whose son Bob joined him in 1947, then sons Allen and Kevin in 1957 to form M.S Hein and Sons.
In 1982, Kevin Hein sold his share to Mr Judd and Mr Knightly.
Although the Hein family’s connection to the company ended in 1992 with Bob’s retirement, the company name endured.
Mr Judd and Mr Knightly bought the company’s current Ramsay Avenue property in 2005, opening at the new premises in mid-January 2006.
While it is an end of an era, Laurie and Chris along with Robert and Pam look forward to travelling in their retirement.
The company’s machinery will go on sale through Grays Online and a clearance sale will be held later this month on site, which will include tools, timber and other items.
