The History of Reynolds Trezona & Lister
The firm of Reynolds Trezona and Lister, was formed in 1948, by three mates working at the time for Watson Bros, one of the original plumbing companies in Brisbane and situated in Margaret Street in CBD.
The three men were Alf Reynolds, Len Trezona (who later become a BCC Alderman) and Graham Lister. Graham Lister, who retired in 2000, is the only surviving member of the original owners.
Their first workshop was in a garage in the backyard of a house in Amy Street Hawthorne. They employed an apprentice and moved to the storeroom of a grocery store situated near the ferry terminal in Oxford Street Bulimba. When the grocery store closed they bought the property and expanded to use more of the available space. The company remained in Oxford Street until 1990, when the business was relocated to its current address in Taylor Street, Bulimba.
In 1996 after Len Trezona had retired from the business, the partnership was incorporated with some shares being distributed among the employees. Two of these employees, Peter Campbell and Keith Uhlmann, eventually became the sole owners of the company.
Peter Campbell commenced his apprenticeship with Reynolds Trezona & Lister in 1954 at the age of 14 and, after 50 years of loyal and dedicated service to company and the industry, retired in 2004.
Keith Uhlmann, who coincidently started his apprenticeship with Watson Bros (where the founders of the company once worked), joined Reynolds Trezona & Lister In 1974 and, like Peter Campbell, has given wonderful service to the company.
Ben L’Estrange bought the business in 2004 and since then it has gone from strength to strength with RTL Plumbing moving into the 21st century and becoming a continued success. Ben had over 10 years experience both here and overseas and bought new technology both in the office and out on the job. Ben now has 12 plumbers working for him and the business is thriving but still has the family feel that it had over 60 years ago.
Maintenance work has always been the main source of business of the company. For many years the majority of the company’s work has been commercial maintenance such as in high rise, industrial and office premises, bodies corporate, schools and rental properties. The company has developed an enviable reputation in this field and it continues to this day. And of recent times the company has expanded its residential domestic maintenance business which now covers all of the greater Brisbane area.
Since 1948 the company has established a large and loyal customer base with some of our customers being associated with our business for over 60 years.
