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A.G. Coombs’ 80th anniversary has been marked with the release of Perpetuating the Vision: A.G. Coombs – Bringing Buildings to Life, a new online edition written by historian and author Marcella Hunter that chronicles the company’s history, celebrates the people who helped shape its success and acknowledges those who will carry the business forward into the future.
Continuing from where the 70th anniversary book A Singular Vision left off in 2015, this updated book revisits the original narrative, brings recently uncovered stories and images to life and documents a transformative decade in which A.G. Coombs expanded its national footprint, reinforced its reputation as a technical innovator and delivered building services solutions for some of Australia’s most prominent facilities. It also commemorates the contribution of colleagues who are no longer with us.
The past decade has seen A.G. Coombs evolve and realise even greater aspirations. Today, the company’s focus on diversity and inclusion and developing industry professionals isn’t just a strategic decision – it is central to the way the business operates.
The book also reflects on the resilience demonstrated by A.G. Coombs employees during the difficult years of the COVID-19 pandemic and how the company and its people emerged stronger and more committed to being Australia’s leading building services provider.
From pioneering apprenticeship and graduate training programs and empowering women to lead in a traditionally male-oriented industry, to redefining the way the company engages with First Nations peoples and communities on its reconciliation journey, A.G. Coombs remains a business built on shared values and common goals.
Please explore this special Online Edition of Perpetuating the Vision and discover the history, people and continuing story of A.G. Coombs.
A note from the author
“What became apparent in writing this history is that while A.G. Coombs is an innovator, it has not sought to change everything from its past. Rather it has reaffirmed the things it holds important such as its contribution to industry development and its focus on nurturing and providing career opportunities for all its employees. These things could so easily have slipped during the necessary cost-cutting measures of past economic downturns, yet they have only strengthened as each crisis passed.
When it came time to update the history, the new title, Perpetuating the Vision, made sense.
Of course, when one perpetuates a vision, it does not mean that one must perpetuate every single element of the original vision. However, one can perpetuate the essence of that vision (to be privately owned, for example, and to recognise that employees are the backbone of your company) while still being innovative and responsive to new challenges.
One thing that has not changed is the commitment to the core values. For me, this was highlighted time and time again as I commenced interviewing for this updated edition of the book. Indeed, employees often referenced the company’s core values while discussing key projects and challenges. More than anything, this was what guided me as I began drafting the new chapters.”
Author & historian
Book Synopsis
Perpetuating the Vision: A.G. Coombs – Bringing Buildings to Life continues the story of A Singular Vision, which chronicled how a small plumbing business evolved into Australia’s leading building services specialist.
This updated 80th anniversary online edition includes three new chapters covering the years from 2015 to 2025 – a momentous decade in which A.G. Coombs expanded its national footprint, reinforced its reputation as a technical innovator, designed and installed the building services in some of Australia’s most prominent facilities, and navigated the COVID-19 pandemic.
After eighty years, A.G. Coombs remains privately owned and proudly 100 percent Australian owned and operated.
The company’s achievements are remarkable given its humble beginnings in 1945 at the end of the Second World War, when Allan George Coombs – a plumber by trade – decided to capitalise on the work being generated by post-war construction. Having started out with nothing more than a pushbike and a kit of tools, Allan eventually purchased some land in Moorabbin, and by 1953 had built a factory and office in what were then open paddocks.
The company’s earliest achievements included the plumbing installations at the 1956 Olympic Village in Melbourne, followed by the installation of air conditioning and mechanical services at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital – then Australia’s largest mechanical services contract when completed in 1963.
The arrival of air conditioning in Australia would ultimately determine A.G. Coombs’ future, with the company repositioning itself during the 1960s to focus on commercial properties – a decision that saw it go on to air condition significant buildings along Melbourne’s Collins Street, notably Collins Place.
From the outset, Allan and his team had fabricated ductwork and sheet metal products on site. The company would much later establish an integrated prefabrication facility, pioneering multi-storey services risers for some of Australia’s tallest buildings.
This history covers the tough decisions taken by the company to streamline its operations during severe economic downturns. It also explores how A.G. Coombs transitioned into a whole-of-life technical specialist and built an enviable corporate culture around eight core values that would become a touchstone for employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Featured throughout this book are the numerous buildings that A.G. Coombs has brought to life – among them the Princess Theatre in Melbourne, Canberra’s John Gorton Building, the ANZ Centre (Melbourne), Barangaroo South (Sydney), Queen’s Wharf Brisbane, Rod Laver Arena, the Victorian Heart Hospital, Melbourne’s Town Hall Station, Metro Martin Place (Sydney) and many more.
Above all, this is a book about people – the people who started the business, those who helped it grow and, ultimately, those who will take it forward into the next decade and beyond.
