Jim Hurley

Late 1950’s – Jim Hurley finished school at 16 and started working for F Briggs & Sons, a Blackburn company, owned by his brother Clive Hurley. F Briggs was a local refrigeration company that installed & maintained some of the first refrigeration systems in Blackburn businesses. Jim was an apprentice here and this is where he learned his trade.

Early 1960’s – With an expanding refrigeration market, there was room for another business in town. Jim left F Briggs and started up on his own, installing & maintaining refrigeration equipment in local Blackburn Businesses.

Hans Christian Casper Hendricks (aka. Peter Hendricks)

Peter, a Dutchman, worked for several national & international refrigeration companies before settling in Blackburn. He spent time at Fridgidair & Southern & Redfern. Like Jim, Peter started up his own business in Blackburn, installing & maintaining refrigeration equipment to businesses in the town & surrounding areas.

Working together

Jim & Peter were aware of each other, as local competition. They actually helped each other out on big jobs; in the 60’s, equipment was much bigger and bulkier than today. Just changing a compressor was a 2-man job.

Jim & Peter realised that they were a great team and formally started working together in 1964, formally establishing “H&H Refrigeration”, trading as Acme, in 1965.