T.C. Clarke & Son: Upholding Family Tradition

A construction contractor with roots that go back for almost a century, T.C. Clarke and Son is a Brisbane Master Builder with operations in the industrial and commercial sectors. Set up in 1919 by Thomas Charles Clarke after he returned from the First World War, the company is engaged in design and construct services, property maintenance and commercial and industrial restoration and renovations. Its latest diversification is in commercial cabinet making and shop fitting.

When the company began operations one of its first projects was for the Queensland National Bank which subsequently became the National Australia Bank. At that time a number of other bank projects were also completed by the company in addition to a variety of construction work for the government. Several of these earlier buildings are now Heritage Listed, those being The National Bank of Australia buildings in Ayr & Mackay as well as the Goondiwindi Town Hall in Queensland.

The second generation of the family to manage T.C. Clarke and Son was Morris Clarke. He consolidated the company’s operations and played a crucial role in enhancing the company’s reputation for being a reliable and trusted builder for the period stretching from after the Second World War till the early 1970’s.

Geoff Clarke, the current owner of the company, is the grandson of the founder. He has very ably managed the business and, in addition to expanding the existing lines, has successfully diversified into commercial cabinet making and shop fitting.

The company’s ability to carry out high quality and aesthetically pleasing interior work has served to establish its presence in this market. With each completed project in this area, the company has gained greater recognition. In fact, this division has done exceedingly well and completed several prestigious projects.

T.C. Clarke and Son have also completed a number of high profile projects in the education sector. It has built several new buildings at St. Margret’s School in Brisbane and also the first two stages of the Padua College at Kedron. Although the company’s only office is situated in Brisbane, it does work throughout Queensland and Northern New South Wales. It has even expanded into the Northern Territory and is currently executing cabinet supply and fit out projects there.

Over the years the company has also developed expertise in retail design and fit out, office interiors, roof installations, roof restoration and construction, and commercial office fit outs. One of the ongoing projects of T.C. Clarke and Son involves building two facilities for Urban Utilities. The company’s specialised skills are being used to construct several buildings above flood level in flood prone areas.

The company is also executing a project which involves the fit out work for the redevelopment of the Central Queensland University in Brisbane. They have also recently completed the major refurbishment of 4 office floors for an English Speaking School in the CBD.

Speaking about the range of work carried out by T.C. Clarke and Son, Geoff Clarke says, “We do the maintenance work for the Coles Group which includes Coles Supermarkets, Coles Express, Kmart, Target, Liquorland, First Choice and Vintage Cellars.

“We concentrate on medium sized projects and do about six to eight construction projects a year and in our shop fitting division there is constant work. These are smaller projects where we fit out a Liquorland or an office. We also do maintenance work and many small projects.”

The company has three divisions – construction, cabinet making/shop fitting and maintenance. Each of these has a constant stream of work and contributes to the reputation and standing of the company.

T.C. Clarke and Son purchase material from a wide variety of suppliers. Bunnings is a key materials supply source who have a tie-up with the Coles Group for whom the company does a substantial amount of work. Some of the other important suppliers are Virginia Building Supplies, Brett’s Timber and Hardware and John Barnes Locksmiths. For the cabinet making division Nova Hardware and Janden Wood Products are important. The company also uses SJ Electric and Dr Ceilings as sub-contractors.

T.C. Clarke and Son have expanded steadily over the years and now the fourth generation of the family is playing an active role in its running and management. Geoff’s son, Scott, has completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Construction Management and has been working in the company for the last 13 years.

There are very few companies in the construction sector which can boast of having been in existence for almost a century. T.C. Clarke and Son have not only survived, it has grown its operations over the years. Along with its business volumes, the company has gained a very reliable reputation and the large number of successfully completed projects is proof of its high quality work. Now, with the fourth generation of the family actively involved in the family business, T.C. Clarke and Son are ready for many more years of steady growth.