Peter Johns

History

Johns was born in Pembroke, Wales, the son of builder Thomas Johns and his wife Elizabeth, née Tudor. He was for two years assistant foreman for Fox, Henderson & Co., constructing The Crystal Palace.

He emigrated to Australia on the Champion of the Seas, arriving in Melbourne in June 1856. He set up a blacksmith's workshop in Flinders Lane, where he fabricated straightforward iron components such as posts for houses and bridges, as well as undertaking a range of construction jobs.

Around 1870 he hired an engineer, Thomas Pearce, who had trade experience with Boulton & Watt of Birmingham. With Pearce as an assistant, they greatly expanded their capabilities and specialised in fabricating hydraulic lifts, which were increasingly being installed in multi-storey buildings. The workshop grew and in 1888 he floated Johns Hydraulic & General Engineering Co. as a public company. In 1892 they formed a consortium as Johns & Waygood to supply and install passenger and goods lifts to the new Metropolitan Gas Company building. In 1893 the company became Johns & Waygood Limited after taking over the Australian arm of the British Richard Waygood & Co. Johns, Pearce and Charles Lawson were board members and major shareholders, as were Thomas Bent and George Swinburne.

He died at home after a long illness, and was buried at Boroondara Cemetery, Kew. His son Alfred Johns, the noted cricketer, was on tour in England when news arrived that his father was dangerously ill and immediately left for home on the Oroya. He was by all accounts a generous and highly regarded employer.

Members of the family have been actively involved throughout its history. Peter's younger son Fred W. Johns was a director and secretary, then chairman. His elder son F(rederick) Peter Johns joined the board in 1944.

In 1966 Johns & Waygood absorbed the South Australian heavy engineering firm of Perry Engineering and in the following decade closed down their facilities at Mile End, Gawler and Whyalla.

Family

Johns married Charlotte Eliza Barrett (ca.1831 – 29 August 1918) in late 1856, and lived in Lygon Street before purchasing a home in Hawthorn. They had six daughters and two sons, one being Alfred Edward Johns, the noted cricketer. They lived at "Tudor", Berkley Street, Hawthorn and were members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.