Bowens - The Builders Choice

130+ Years

Helping Australians Build Better

Since 1894, Bowens has supplied the widest range of timber & building products to Australian builders. Learn more about our long history here.

1894
1894

BOWENS 1894-1950

1894: Richard Bowen (pictured left) and Redmond Pomeroy (pictured right) founded “Bowen & Pomeroy Pty Ltd” and officially commenced trading.

1912

BOWENS 1894-1950

1912: Bowens purchases a large fleet of horses employs 12 drivers and a blacksmith to transport timber.

1914

BOWENS 1894-1950

1914: Bowens grows and employs 102 workers but in six months after the outbreak of World War 1, the number of employees drops down to 59 with sales dropping from 55,926 (1913) to 35,350 pounds.

1924

BOWENS 1894-1950

1924: Richard Bowen dies at the age of 59 and three months later his partner Redmond Pomeroy also dies. Charlie Barrass (pictured) steps in to lead the company.

1925

BOWENS 1894-1950

1925: Bowens assist Victoria’s industrial development and imports the first Mershon Roller Recut Bandsaw. This sixty-horse-powered machine produced Oregon beams and framing that later built the iconic Ford Motor Factory in Geelong.

1934

BOWENS 1894-1950

1934: John Richard Bowen becomes managing director.

1941

BOWENS 1894-1950

1941: 22 Bowens employees are enlisted to fight in the Second World War.

1950-2000

1950
1956

BOWENS 1950-2000

1956: Bowens supplies timber for the Melbourne Cricket Ground grandstands as it hosts the Olympic Games.

1959

BOWENS 1950-2000

1959: Bowens supplies Tallowwood flooring for the construction of the Sydney Myer Music Bowl.

1960

BOWENS 1950-2000

1960: A leadership that kept the company afloat in the times of war and the Great Depression comes to an end as Charlie Barrass (pictured right) retires after 48 years of service.

1971

BOWENS 1950-2000

1971: John Richard Bowen passes away at age 61. His son Jack Bowen (pictured) becomes the new managing director.

1976

BOWENS 1950-2000

1976: Bowens Bentleigh East opens.

1978

BOWENS 1950-2000

1978: Bowens Croydon opens.

1981

BOWENS 1950-2000

1981: Bowens Rowville opens.

1982

BOWENS 1950-2000

1982: Bowens new prefabrication plant opens at Bowens Hastings.

1988

BOWENS 1950-2000

1988: Bowens Hallam opens and would later extend to accommodate Bowens Support Office.

1990

BOWENS 1950-2000

1990: Bowens publishes the first copy of their trade publication the 'Builders Bulletin.'

1994

BOWENS 1950-2000

1994: Bowens Taylors Lakes opens.

1999

BOWENS 1950-2000

1999: Bowens Dandenong Prefabrication facility opens.

2000-present

2000
2002

BOWENS 2000-present

2002: Bowens Laverton opens.

2005

BOWENS 2000-present

2005: John Richard Bowen (pictured right) is appointed as the Managing Director. Jack Bowen (pictured left) becomes Chairman of the board.

2007

BOWENS 2000-present

2007: Bowens Shepparton opens.

2008

BOWENS 2000-present

2008: Bowens Epping & Phillip Island open.

2011

BOWENS 2000-present

2011: Bowens acquires Timbertruss Geelong, consolidating its prefabrication business under the title 'Timbertruss.'

2015

BOWENS 2000-present

2015: Bowens Port Melbourne opens. In the same year, Timbertruss acquires Northside Trusses & Frames business in Brendale, Queensland.

2017

BOWENS 2000-present

2017: Bowens Brunswick opens.

2018

BOWENS 2000-present

2018: Timbertruss consolidates its operations in Corio, opening the largest and most sophisticated prefabrication facility in the southern hemisphere. In the same year, Bowens Pakenham opens.

2019

BOWENS 2000-present

2019: Bowens launches 'Showroom by Bowens,' a high-end architecturally designed facility that sells high-quality building materials, next door to Bowens Port Melbourne.

2020

BOWENS 2000-present

2020: Bowens launches its new eCommerce website with 19 product categories for online shopping and the options of express delivery or Click + Collect.

2021

BOWENS 2000-present

2021: Company legend Jeff Harvey reaches a milestone of 60 years of service with Bowens.

2022

BOWENS 2000-present

2022: Bowens Warragul Opens

2022

BOWENS 2000-present

2022: Bowens acquires local Melton Timber and Hardware

2023

BOWENS 2000-present

2023: Bowens Cheltenham Opens

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