Following their August meeting, where memories of previous Olympic Games were shared, Donald Combined Probus Club members welcomed retired local builder, Murray Broughton as their guest speaker.
Murray spoke on the changes to the local building industry as he has seen it, over the last 58 years, since becoming an apprentice to J.L. and M. A. Howley, after completing year 10, at the age of 15.
He commenced work on February 14, 1966, the day decimal currency commenced, and his first weekly wage was $11.50. Today’s wages for an apprentice finishing year 11 is just over $500 and for those finishing year 12, $600 is the take home wage.
Kit of tools
Among his first kit of tools were a hammer, 2 nail punches, a nailbag, a 6 point and 10 point hand saw, a coping saw, a wood plane, 2 chisels, a mitre square, a brace and some bits and a cordless drill (which was wound by hand), set of drill bits and a lathing axe. The axe he still has today AND it still works.
Any electrical tools were owned by the Boss, and they were big and heavy. Metric measuring became confusing especially for the older traders. One thing was the 3 ft folding rule. This became a metre folding rule. One side had metric, the opposite had feet and inches and nearly 4 inch empty gap at the end. Thus, measurements were in 1 metre 2 foot 6 and a half inches or similar. This seemed to solve the problem. About this time retracting tape measures came into use thus solving the problem and metric became accepted.
The first house Murray helped to build was the present residence of John and Maureen Howley. In the ten years they worked together, they worked on many different jobs; often John Arnel worked with them.
They have worked on the top of the Litchfield Silo, which he told us is 100 feet high. It was here, he said, he did not share John Howley’s love of heights. They also built the first part of the Donald Stadium. Their “scaffolding ” techniques used may not have passed today.
After ten years MJ & GJ Broughton Builders & Joiners was established. It has been a very successful business. They have built 350 homes in the area, and employed 27 apprentices, including 3 sets of brothers.
Differences
The biggest differences Murray has noticed over the years include the change of materials, changing from hardwood to pine. Plaster lining has gone to plaster sheets already made. Roofing has changed from Terracotta and cement tiles to lighter galvanised roofing iron to firstly Zincalume iron that did not rust, then to long length Colorbond.
Cupboards that two people could build in 2-3 weeks in ply or Masonite are now cut to size and prefinished and flat packed in a factory and installed in 2 or 3 days.
Insulation is another big addition, double glazed windows being a great advantage.
Once a home was built in 10-12 weeks by the builder. Today it can take 10-12 months with all the specialised tradies and the permits involved. Even meals have changed; once the owner supplied all the meals, then the workers took their own. Now it involves a visit to the takeaway, at least, three times a day.
Communication is also a big change from speaking to someone on a landline, then a UHF radio, now we all have mobile phones and can send texts and do not have to talk. Such is progress.
All present enjoyed Murray’s talk very much and the stories that accompanied it.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 6 August 2024.
