This is the 1951 prospectus of the new company known as Leahy’s Electrical Industries Limited and formed from the previous business of Jim Leahy, Electrical Engineer. The business was then and remains today at 82 Fairy Street, Warrnambool . The business of Jim Leahy had been operated in conjunction with Leahy’s Hire Cars and commenced in 1946. This was initially a good business with 25 employees but the building stock and plant were destroyed by fire in 1950 with the business continuing on a limited scale until the new company in 1951 was formed. Jim Leahy purchased the freehold at the corner of Liebig and Koroit Streets and the business prospered from there but today it is based back in Fairy StreetThis prospectus is of some significance as it signals the start of the important business in Warrnambool today of Leahy’s Electrical. The prospectus shows that the original directors were Leahy, Dwyer, Walter, Croft, White and Affleck and they were prominent Warrnambool and district people at that time. This prospectus also has a good summary of the history of the Leahy business up to 1951 and the financial statements etc are of considerable importance to researchers and other readers. This is a typed prospectus of six pages printed back to back and with a buff-coloured cover of lightweight card. The printing on the cover is dark blue. Front Cover: ‘Prospectus of Leahy’s Electrical Industries Ltd, Warrnambool, Vic, Collett & Munday, Printers, 254 Timor Street, Warrnamboolleahy’s electrical, jim leahy, leahy's electrical prospectus, warrnambool

This prospectus contains the history of Leahy's electrical . The objectives of this company were to allow expansion of the present business ( est,1946) , to take advantage of the excellent corner site and to modernise the building and carry all heavy duty electrical and mechanical lines for commercial users and farmers.Attached was a hire car services which operated as Leahy's Hire cars. The service of the the previous business commenced in 1946 at 82 Fairy Street and grew to employ up to 25 tradesmen. However the assets of the business were lost May1, 1950 when building stock and plant was destroyed by fire.In October 1950 Mr leahy purchased the freehold on the corner of Liebig and Koroit Streets Warrnambool The directors of the new company were John James Leahy, John Beynon Dwyer, William John Taggart Walter, William James Croft, Martin White and James Albert Affleck. They aimed to raise 50000 pounds with 100000 shares at ten shillings each. This document shows the beginnings of one of Warrnambool's most successful 20th century companies. It lists the people associated with it from its inception many of whom were and are well known in the district. It therefore has strong social and historical significance.Cream soft card cover with dark blue text. It is stapled together and contains 6 pages on cream paper with black text.back cover is plain.Prospectus of Leahy's Electrical Industries Ltd Warrnambool Vic, 19th April 1951.warrnambool, j j leahy, jim leahy, leahy's electrical industries, prospectus leahy's electrical industries 1951

J. J. Leahy set up his retail electrical business in 1946 selling fridges, stoves and washers after commencing work wiring peoples’ homes in the late 1940’s. He developed the business into a large retail store and electrical contracting business which operated locally and Australia wide... He also ran Beattie and Phillips Funeral directors. The electrical business had several locations along Koroit Street before finally establishing on the south east corner of Fairy and Koroit Street. Jim died in November 26th 2008. The store is still run by his nephew Robert Askew. Jimmy Leahy was involved in the City council for a number of years and served as town mayor. The minutes contained in this book especially the information written in the Managing directors reports, provides an overview not just of a business but of business practice and the changes which occurred in life over the 40 year period. It contains events such as the introduction of television, refrigerated dairies and dates for tenders for major building programs such as WIAE, East Warrnambool School, Town Hall. Large dark blue fabric and leather bound ledger. The index pages are A –Z but contain no entries. Pages 1- 108 are handwritten minutes of Leahy’s Electrical Industries Committee. Pages 109-114 contain typed pages re AGM. Remaining pages are blank. Time period ranges from March 28th 1951 to December 1986. Signatures: J B Dwyer, W J Gleeson J J Leahy. Names included J.B. Dwyer, J.J. Leahy, M White, W.W. Croft, J.J. Walter, W Ross, J.J. Affleck, C.A. Richards, S J Wilson, J Croft, I.L. T Mahoney, P Conheady, J Meade.warrnambool, j.j. leahy, leahy’s, jimmy leahy, ledger, leahy’s electrical