Heritage collection

The story of many McQuinns

From one plumbing legend to another: Long-term member Greg McQuinn tells history enthusiast Peter Jensen about his family’s story and shows off some of the heritage.

Recently I wrote about a Vintage Rally in Cobden. I turned the event into a road trip and, after all the lockdowns, it was a wonderful getaway filled with great folks, interesting items and some plumbing legends. One of the legends was long-time, Master Plumbers member Greg McQuinn who I have known for a number of years. We decided to meet at his shop on the Sunday morning. On the nature strip in front of the shop is a board (part of the Cobden story) dedicated to the four generations of the McQuinn family who have served the community for more than 90 years. The chronology runs something like this: 1927: Greg’s grandfather Thomas Stanley (Stan) McQuinn acquired a plumbing business from his employer, Tinny Wilson. 1940: Stan’s son, Bernie, began working with the family business, which carried out general plumbing, made galvanised rainwater tanks and milk cans, and installed and repaired windmills. 1970: Bernie’s eldest son, Greg, started his apprenticeship, followed by a second son Michael two years later. 2008: Greg and wife Leanne’s, son Stephen, joined the business becoming the fourth generation of the McQuinn plumbing dynasty. Greg took us on a tour of the premises. The showroom had a good collection of old tools and equipment. Out the back of the original front office is the old workshop where the tanks and milk can were made. The rollers, folders, seamers, and all the various specialised hand tools are still there from when it was a busy and productive workshop. The McQuinn’s would solder a small brass name plate to each tank – Made by T.S. McQuinn Cobden. Greg told a great yarn: While having Christmas drinks one year Greg and his work mates promised they would get together and make another tank the good old way. I would love to be there for that and record the processes. When looking through the showroom it was nice to see an Australian made product, Brass Ball Valves from a locale company Alderdice in Warrnambool.