P & A CouttsThe story of Horsham

Timber & Joinery.

Percival Lawrence Coutts – Wimmera Roots.

Richard Coutts.Pioneer Settler.

Richard CouttsSon of Pioneer

Percival R. CouttsHorsham icon.

Percival L. CouttsBorn – BallaratDied – Horsham

• How did this person of significanceestablish business in Horsham?

Percival Lawrence Coutts - Lineage

Richard CouttsBorn – Kincardine, Scotland. 1832.Died – Rupanyup, Australia. 1889.Imm – To the Goldfields, Ballarat. 1854.

Great Grandfather

Percival Lawrence Coutts –A Short History (gt gnd’parents).

Richard Coutts:Born – 1832 to John & Christian Coutts.

Youngest of two children.Married – Janet Condie and had 12Children, 11 sons and one daughter.Resided – Lallat, Rupanyup.Settled – Rupanyup (from 1872)Work – Miner and FarmerHistory:• Mentioned in the Victoria and

its Metropolis.• Significant pioneer to the

region.• 1885 trip to the Kimberleys.• Walked to Queensland for land.• Most of his sons all prospected.• Killed in 1889 in a farming

accident.• Arthur & David Coutts Lallat. • Buried in the Rupanyup

Cemetery.

Percival Lawrence Coutts - Lineage

Grandfather

Richard CouttsBorn – Talbot, Victoria. 1866.Died – Ballarat, Australia. 1954.Buried – Horsham, Victoria.

Percival Lawrence Coutts –A Short History (grandparents).

Richard Coutts:Born – 1864 to Richard & Janet Coutts.

Second eldest child.Married – Maria O’Shea and had 5Children, 3 sons and two daughters.Resided – Mount Magnet, WA (etc).Settled – On the moveWork – Miner.History:• Spent significant time ‘on the

move’.• Recollections of his time.• Spent time near Gordon

(Victoria)and Warracknabeal • 1885 trip to the Kimberleys.• Children raised in Horsham.• Died of old age in Ballarat.• Buried in the Horsham

Cemetery.

Percival Lawrence Coutts - Lineage

Richard CouttsBorn – Allendale (near Ballarat) , Victoria. 1887.Died – Ballarat, Australia. 1951Buried – Ballarat, Victoria.

Father

Percival Lawrence Coutts –A Short History (parents).

Percival Richard Coutts:Born – 1887 to Richard & Maria Coutts.

Eldest child.Married – Margaret O’Keane and had 10 Children, 7 sons and three daughters.Resided – Horsham & BallaratSettled – Ballarat (after Horsham)Work – Compositor/typesetter.History:• Had strong connections in

Horsham• Champion footballer Horsham

andBallarat.• Moved for his football and work• WW1 – Military Medal (Messine

1917)• Post war illness.• Died in Ballarat.• Buried in the Ballarat Cemetery.

Percival Lawrence Coutts.

•What created his personality:• A child of the depression• Apprentice at 13, little formal education• Second eldest, father ill, worked to support• Responsibility•Determined and courageous•Used his brains and ability• Served in WW2

Percival Lawrence Coutts –AIF.

His father: P. R. Coutts (MM):WW1 38th BattalionThe Western FrontLieutenant

P. L. Coutts: WW238th BattalionIn Darwin during the bombingServed in New Guinea and Milne BaySergeant

P & A Coutts – 1951 to 1982.

• Apprenticed to Fred Harris (prior and post war)• Established P & A Coutts in 1951•Humble beginnings•Mainly domestic and renovations•Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (1957)

P & A Coutts – 1951 to 1982.

• The ‘green fleet’.

P & A Coutts – 1951 to 1982.

• Post 1960, expansion• After war redevelopment•Opportunity and determination•Not only Horsham, far reaching influence• Competed aggressively and strongly•Developed a reputation•Was the inaugural chair of the MBAV in

the Wimmera

P & A Coutts – 1951 to 1982.• Expansion – 1960’s and onwards.

P & A Coutts – 1951 to 1982.• Expansion – local influence.

P & A Coutts – 1951 to 1982.

• Changing the faceof Horsham.

P & A Coutts – 1951 to 1982.

Horsham Civic Centre

Horsham RSLPublic State Offices

P & A Coutts – 1951 to 1982.

• Turnover $100M post war• Employed 150 people in peak times• Trained 150 apprentices•Memories as a teenager….•Was the biggest employer next to Wimmera

Base Hospital•Would often say ‘….wherever you go someone will know you’.

P & A Coutts – 1951 to 1982.• Closed in 1982• Took on ‘all comers’• Educated many• Broke down barriers• Migrant workers• Many years to retire• Influenced many• State reputation• Not bad for a bloke

who got A+ in pastels