Hansen Yuncken’s story may be widely known across Australia, but its roots run particularly deep in regional Victoria, none more so than in Shepparton. While the founding partnership between Otto Yuncken and Lauritz Hansen was forged in 1918, it was just seven years later, in 1925, that their sights turned north to the Goulburn Valley, building canneries during the growing season and later opening its permanent office in Shepparton to meet the growing needs of the flourishing fruit and dairy industry.
This move laid the foundation for a century of contributions to the local community, industry and built environment, proudly established a century ago.
One of HY’s earliest commissions was building the Shepparton Preserving Company (SPC), with repeat work quickly following from major names such as Ardmona Foods, Kyabram Cannery, Campbells Soups, and Shepparton Butter Factory. The seasonal nature of the canning industry meant construction had to be completed strictly outside production windows – a challenge met with precision and unwavering reliability. It was a time when reputation was everything, and Hansen Yuncken became synonymous with trust and quality across the Goulburn Valley.
HY worked with prominent developers like Sir Andrew Fairley (a Director of SPC), who led major developments across the Shepparton CBD. Even then, no matter the client or scope, the firm’s commitment to supporting local industries came first.
It wasn’t until after the Second World War the office commenced work in a “normal” fashion. At this time, it was not unusual for the Shepparton operation to employ a large team – in peak periods, the workforce was in excess of 40 carpenters, and over the years came to directly employ teams of plumbers, plasterers, joiners (including a joinery shop) and metalworkers. These traditional trades were retained well into the ’80s.
As the fruit industry gradually declined, HY’s work naturally evolved and began expanding into broader commercial construction, servicing towns like Tatura, Nathalia, Kyabram, Merrigum and Mooroopna. It was during this shift that HY cemented its reputation as the go-to builder in the Goulburn Valley.
As a result of this growth, opportunities emerging in northern Victoria and southern NSW, in 2006 Hansen Yuncken commenced operating from Albury whilst maintaining our office and yard in Shepparton.
This ‘can do’ reputation continues today, as HY regionally build hospitals, schools, aged care facilities, prisons, industrial and retail projects, local government projects and more. Hansen Yuncken continues to employ local trades and suppliers on its projects to ensure many of the benefits of large-scale construction are shared by the local community.
