In 1951, after his return from WWII Russell Jones and his wife Lorna founded Corowa Plumbing Supplies as a plumbing contracting business for all facets of the plumbing industry including new cottage work, light industrial, commercial, roofing and general maintenance. This business grew substantially and at one time in the 70’s employed 17 plumbers and drainers.
In 1983, Russell Jones together with his sons Graham, Gavin and Trevor and his nephew Jim, expanded the business of Corowa Plumbing Supplies Pty Ltd by adding the Steeline Division. The Steeline Division operated mobile rollforming machinery, and supplied Colorbond Steel Gutter and Colorbond Steel Fascia to the building industry. Corowa Plumbing Supplies Pty Ltd pioneered the Steeline concept in this area and was the largest steel gutter and fascia supplier in the Southern Riverina, Albury/Wodonga and Corowa districts.
Further expansion of the family business was to take place in 1986 with the opening of The Roofing Centre Albury/Wodonga in Union Rd, North Albury. This saw the establishment of a manufacturing operation for metal roofing, rainwater products and sheds servicing the domestic, commercial and rural markets. This offered the local building trade substantial benefits through local production and orders being produced in custom rolled house lots. This company has further expanded and currently has manufacturing outlets at Bathurst, Bendigo, Shepparton and Wagga Wagga in addition to its Albury head office.
In 1992 Corowa Plumbing further expanded its business operations with the opening of the Home Selection Centre at its branch store in Albury/Wodonga which increased the population base serviced by the company to over 100,000 people.
In 1993, after over 40 years of plumbing the contracting division in Corowa was shut down and this enabled the workshop to be converted into a storage area for the bulk purchasing of plumbing materials for resale. This coincided with the company joining the national buying group, Plumbtec Australia which offered substantial cost savings on the purchase of stock for the plumbing retail business and ensured its market competitiveness.
In 2015 the company closed the Home Selection Centre at the Union Road site to allow Steeline space to expand into carports, garages and sheds at the Albury site.
In 2018 Corowa Plumbtec and Steel Centre will be undertaking a major renovation at the Corowa site to both further expand its current product range and to enable better customer service for its existing and ever growing cliental. Watch this space, exciting times ahead for the Corowa business.