Type Private Company Founder John Hardy Motto Jewellers since 1853 Founded 1853 | Industry Retail Website Official website Headquarters Brisbane | |
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Area served Sydney
Brisbane
Melbourne
Perth Products Jewellery, timepeices and decorative arts | ||
Hardy Brothers is a specialty retailer and private company of fine jewellery, timepieces and decorative arts in Australia. Its historic products are now highly collectible and are held in state and national collections. It is the only Australian jewellery business to hold a Royal Warrant and since 1980 has produced the Melbourne Cup.
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History
Hardy Brothers was founded in 1853 by Jeweller John Hardy, an Englishman newly arrived in Sydney, NSW, Australia. In 1855, the business moved to Hunter Street, Sydney, NSW and remained there until 1935. In 1894, the business expanded to Queensland with the opening of a store in Queen Street, Brisbane (now heritage-listed as the Hardy Brothers Building).
A store was opened in Collins Street, Melbourne, in 1918. In 1929, Hardy Brothers were appointed jewellers by Royal Warrant to His Majesty King George V. The business remained in family control until 1974 and was then taken over in 1980 by Qintex and controlled by that company until 1988. It was then bought by the McKinney family and lastly by Wallace Bishop in 1997. Wallace Bishop is a family owned jewellery company established in 1917 and now run by the fourth generation. Stuart Bishop is the current CEO.