Hardy Brothers Limited

Image courtesy of Carter’s Publication.

Hardy Bros. are specialty jewellers ,silversmiths, watch and clock makers. They were founded in Sydney in 1856 by English jeweller, John Hardy, and his brother Samuel who ran the London end of the the business and died there in 1865. Samuel’s son (Samuel jnr 1876-1919) and grandson (Samuel  Houston 1871-1949) were also part of the family business, as were John’s sons Arthur Morley (1862-1931), John (1872-1949) and Walter Houston (1864-1919). Unfortunately Walter, overworked perhaps and depressed, took both his own life and that of his beloved son Alan in 1919.

State Library NSW, #IE1637702. Hardy Bros store in Hunter St, Sydney.

In 1894 they expanded to Brisbane, and in 1918 a store opened in Melbourne. They are the only Australian jeweller to have a Royal Warrant bestowed, which occurred in 1929. It remained in family ownership until 1970. It was bought by Wallace Bishop in 1997. (A button by Wallace Bishop was featured on 16th July.)

The Herald (Melbourne), 26th July 1933. The new Collins Street store.

The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, 24th May 1902 page 1447.

The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, 16th September 1908, page 756. Details below:

The Methodist (Sydney) 12th December 1914 page 5.

The Sydney Stock and Station Journal, 12th December 1916, page 8.