By CASEY NEILL
Springvale’s Harry Gunther has seen plenty about the building industry change during his 50-year career.
Roofing isn’t one of them.
“We still have cement tiles, terracotta tiles and Colorbond roofing. It’s been like that for a long, long time,” he said.
“That’ll change before long. Something new will come along.”
And Mr Gunther would know. The 72-year-old only recently retired after starting out as a builder under his father’s guidance at the age of 15.
“And I had two sons and I taught them,” he said.
He shared his story at the We Built Dandenong – tradies of Dandenong reminisce event at Heritage Hill’s Benga House on 20 April.
It complemented the Let’s Build exhibition, on display at 80-year-old Benga until 24 June to share housing stories from the region dating back to the 1930s.
“Dandenong was a real good place,” he said.
“Building-wise it was going well. Factories, shops, they were all on the go.
“Everything was hardwood. It came down from Gippsland by train.
“Everything was done by hand when we first started off.”
He said places like Keysborough were “still going flat-out” but “it’s a different game now”.
“It’s more of a pre-fab frame, a lot of foam,” he said.
“I think the factories have changed – the tilt-up concrete, they’re very quick to build now.”
Mr Gunther said building was a good trade and encouraged kids to give it a go.
“They’re not as keen at the moment. They’re more into computers … they don’t like getting their hands dirty – but not all of them,” he said.
“They’ve got to be good with their hands and their head.”
Alongside Let’s Build will be Creators: stories of creative people in Greater Dandenong, and glass and china from Greater Dandenong’s civic collection dating back to the 1930s.
The events are part of the Discovery and Rediscoveries-themed 2016 National Trust Heritage Festival.
Heritage Hill is at 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong.
