The following businesses were the 2013 Bronze recipients of the Lord Mayor's Commendations.
David Anderson
Business name: I and J Anderson Pty Ltd
Business address: Level 7, 343 Little Collins Street, Melbourne 3000
Telephone: 03 9670 4153
Year became proprietor: 2003
David Anderson’s father, Ian, trained under Alwyn Carter Pilkington, a well-known identity in the jewellery industry. Alwyn trained over 40 apprentices and three of his former apprentices went on to teach their sons, of which David is one.
I and J Anderson Pty Ltd was established in the early 1960s by Ian Anderson. Ian worked as a diamond setter for 55 years.
David began working in the business in 1983 and took over from his father in 2003. The majority of David’s clients and suppliers are in the City of Melbourne.
David Benjamin
Business name: Benjamin & Co Jewellers
Business address: 360 Little Collins Street, Melbourne 3000
Telephone: 03 9670 9416
Business email:
benjaminsjeweller@westnet.com.au
Year became proprietor: 1989
David Benjamin follows in the footsteps of his great grandfather, grandfather, father, great uncles and uncles as a jeweller. Benjamin & Co. was founded in 1880 by Abraham Benjamin, who manufactured and imported jewellery.
David is proud to continue the family tradition, taking over the company as proprietor in 1989 and building on its reputation as a destination business that offers a personalised, bespoke service for specialised jewellery. He, along with his three staff who have collectively been with the company for 60 years, still offer Benjamin’s long-standing clientele a full remake, repair and reconditioning service for their jewellery.
The Benjamin family is recognised in this year’s Generational Family Business category.
Andrew David Bird
Business name: Melbourne Water Taxis
Business address: World Trade Centre, 18-38 Siddeley Street, Melbourne 3000
Telephone: 0430 535 577
Business email:
mw.taxi@three.com.au
Business website:
melbournewatertaxis.com.au
Year became proprietor: 1995
Melbourne Water Taxis was established in 1995 to provide transport to the Australian Open tennis and events at Rod Laver.
The service extends to Flemington, running to the Spring Carnival and is a popular mode of transport. Other services include corporate, weddings and special occasion cruises. ‘The Yarra Loop’ commenced recently, running in the summer months. In the winter they run a service called ‘Float to the Footy’ from the World Trade Centre to the MCG landing. Both services have been a huge success showcasing Melbourne and providing a comfortable and unique style of transport using its waterways.
Melbourne Water Taxis believe ’being a part of the new evolving Melbourne holds very exciting prospects, especially with new precincts planned.
Eileen Carney
Business name: American Rag
Business address: Shop M24, Southgate Shopping Complex, Southbank 3006
Telephone: 03 9699 2978
Business email:
Inntrade1@bigpond.com
Business website:
americanrag.com.au
Year became proprietor: 1991
Eileen Carney was born and raised in New Jersey and worked in the American fashion industry for a decade before moving to Australia in 1987.
She worked for Pelaco Shirts in Melbourne before starting her vintage fashion store, American Rag, in Melbourne Central shopping centre in 1991. The concept provided a platform for her to be a “mom”, run a business and travel to the USA. Eileen opened the Southgate store in 1992.
American Rag has sourced and sold high quality vintage clothing and accessories for more than 21 years and has dressed many women for red carpet events, including the Cannes Film Festival.
Damien Cody
Business name: The National Opal Collection
Business address: 119 Swanston Street, Melbourne 3000
Telephone: 03 9654 5533
Business email:
Damien@nationalopal.com
Business website:
nationalopal.com
Year became proprietor: 1998
In 1998 Damien Cody joined his brother, Andrew, as proprietor of The National Opal Collection, which was founded in 1971. Both brothers indulge their passion for gems and minerals by showcasing Australia’s national gemstone in their business, which is part museum and part sales showroom. The National Opal Collection, with its parent company Cody Opal Australia, is arguably Australia’s leading opal company, supplying the gem trade around the world as well as visitors to Australia.
They have been recognised by a Victorian Exporter of the Year Award in 2001 and Tourism Victoria Awards in 2006 and 2007. Damien serves on many industry bodies including the International Colored Gemstone Association and the Jewellers Association of Australia. Andrew Cody was previously recognised in the Gold category of the 2011 Lord Mayor’s Commendations.
Dr Graham Culy
Business name: East Melbourne Dental Group Pty Ltd
Business address: 1/126 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne 3002
Telephone: 03 9417 5874
Business email:
info@eastmelbdental.com.au
Business website:
eastmelbdental.com.au
Year became proprietor: 2001
Graham Culy trained as a dentist in New Zealand and had a successful practice in Wellington before setting up his practice in East Melbourne.
Graham and his wife started the business in 2001 with himself, a receptionist, a dental hygienist and an assistant. The practice has grown and now employs two dentists, two hygienists/therapists, two receptionists and three dental assistants. Two of Graham’s original staff members are still with him.
The East Melbourne Dental Group use high-tech equipment including computerised 3D imaging for porcelain tooth restorations. They love the atmosphere in East Melbourne, with the beautiful parks, the MCG and the great public transport.
Leigh Doeg
Business name: Victoria Star Cruises Pty Ltd
Business address: Victoria Star, Dock 9 Central Pier, Docklands 3008
Telephone: 0419 883 334
Business email:
info@victoriastar.com.au
Business website:
victoriastar.com.au
Year became proprietor: 1999
Leigh Doeg has always had a passion for the sea, historic ships and the history of Port Phillip’s excursion steamers. At the age of 18 he volunteered to restore the Polly Woodside, and later the Steam Tug Wattle which he managed and captained for 12 years on the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay as a passenger steamer.
In 1999 he decided to create his own business. Leigh purchased a former Sydney ferry, and after an extensive rebuild she entered service as the Victoria Star cruising Melbourne’s waterways. Operating from Docklands, the Victoria Star is one of the largest passenger vessels in Melbourne and has become a great success conducting weddings, corporate functions and celebrations.
Scott Dunkley
Business name: Victoria Harbour Pharmacy & News
Business address: 66 Merchant St, Docklands, 3008
Year became proprietor: 2003
Scott Dunkley has been a qualified pharmacist since 1994 and purchased the World Trade Centre Pharmacy, Docklands in partnership with Tim Lewis in 2003.
They relocated the pharmacy to the NAB headquarters at 800 Bourke Street, Docklands in January 2004 when there were few other buildings in the Victoria Harbour area. Then in September 2008 they again relocated to their current position in Merchant Street, Docklands.
Scott believes Docklands will continue to grow and prosper and he is expecting the business will mirror this growth. Having started out with one pharmacist and two sales staff they now employ two pharmacists and eight sales staff at their current shop.
Maurice Esposito
Business name: The Barber Saloon
Business address: 73 Errol Street, North Melbourne 3051
Telephone: 03 9328 1767
Business email:
thebarbersaloon@bigpond.com
Year became proprietor: 2000
The Barber Saloon is a family business, started in 1967 by Alfonso Tomaselli at Happy Valley North Melbourne. After six years the business moved to 73 Errol Street and has been there for the last 40 years.
Alfonso’s nephew, Maurice, began working in the barber shop in 1994 and became the proprietor in 2000. Maurice loves meeting people, listening to their stories, sharing his in return and generally enjoying each day as it comes.
His long-standing customers include politicians, footballers and celebrities, along with the general community who have had their hair cut at The Barber Saloon for many years. Young men are also flocking to this old-school style barber shop, with a large percentage of the clientele under 40 years of age.
Jacqui Fernandes
Business name: Jacqui Fernandes
Business address: Shop 7, Collins Place, 45 Collins Street, Melbourne
Telephone: 03 9650 1070
Business email:
contact@jacquifernandes.com.au
Year became proprietor: [1989] 1994 within City of Melbourne
Jacqui Fernandes studied fashion and textiles at RMIT and after graduating, worked freelance and then in-house with various fashion houses and textile companies before starting her own business in 1989.
Jacqui opened her first shop in 1994, in Howey Place, selling her own label. Her business has evolved and she now carries various international and national labels in her Collins Place boutique. She specialises in exclusive day to evening wear teamed with French silk scarves, bags and jewellery.
Jacqui believes Melbourne is the fashion capital of Australia, and she has established a growing and loyal following. She is a true Melburnian having lived in the city for 17 years.
Sue Gertzel
Business name: City North Physiotherapy Clinic
Business address: Ground Floor, 59 Errol Street, North Melbourne 3051
Telephone: 03 9328 3733
Business email:
citynorthphysio@bigpond.com
Business website:
citynorthphysio.com.au
Year became proprietor: 1997
In 1997, after working for other physiotherapists for many years, Sue Gertzel took the opportunity to open her own business in her area of special interest, oral medicine physiotherapy, as part of an oral medicine practice in Flemington Road.
In 2000 Sue moved to a more central location in Errol Street, North Melbourne, where she has become involved with the close-knit local community, with its diverse population ranging from professional people to young families to the socially disadvantaged.
The business provides a multidisciplinary allied health clinic, treating general musculoskeletal conditions and facial pain, along with a wide variety of services including hands-on manual therapy, electrotherapy, dry needling and exercise programs.
Carl Greco
Business name: Bratwurst Shop & Co
Business address: Shop 99-100, Deli Hall, Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne 3000
Telephone: 03 9639 5556
Business email:
carl@bratwurstshop.com
Year became proprietor: 1990
From the age of 11, Carl Greco grew up in the market where his parents owned a poultry shop. Then at age 21 Carl and his parents, who have since retired, embraced a wonderful opportunity and became proprietors of the iconic Bratwurst Shop. They are the third, and longest, operators of this business which began in the 1970s. Many of the customers have become personal friends of Carl and his family.
The Bratwurst Shop has had numerous write-ups in magazines and become known internationally following visits from international chefs and travel writers. The shop is very popular and during peak periods there are more than 100 bratwursts on the grill at one time.
Nick Karagulidi
Business name: AA-Nika Engraving
Business address: Level 2, Century Building, 125 Swanston Street, Melbourne 3000
Telephone: 03 9639 9269
Business website: aa-nika.com
Year became proprietor: 1992
Master engraver Nick Karagulidi uses the same engraving techniques as his Russian forefathers; his trade hasn’t altered in centuries.
Nick is a jeweller who specialises in hand engraving. He studied at the University of St Petersburg in Russia and has been teaching the art of engraving since he was 15 years old. On arriving in Melbourne from Russia he worked in restaurants part-time until he found work in the jewellery and engraving industry. He established his business in 1992 and provides accurate and artistic hand engraving of all metals.
Nick is well established in the CBD with clients from the city and those that travel to have him engrave special pieces for them.
Peter Kolliner OAM
Business name: Kirra Galleries
Business address: The Atrium, Federation Square, Cnr Swanston and Flinders streets, Melbourne 3000
Telephone: 03 9546 3855
Business email:
peter.kolliner@kirra.com
Business website:
kirragalleries.com
Year became proprietor: 1997
Kirra Galleries began in 1997 as a small retailer of Australian made pewter and glass gifts at the Southgate arts and leisure precinct. Pewter being out of fashion, the business evolved to concentrate on glass and was an instant success.
The gallery accepted the offer of a tenancy in the new Federation Square Atrium and opened in October 2002 when the Premier, Steve Bracks, declared Federation Square open. Since then the gallery has expanded. It has an international clientele and is a destination shop for tourists.
The gallery promotes Australian art glass and stocks Australian made gifts by artists working in Australia. Kirra Galleries has exhibited Australian art glass at the Sculpture Objects and Functional Art exhibition in Chicago for 10 years.
Janet Llewellyn
Business name: ABC Quality Framing
Business address: 554 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne 3051
Telephone: 03 9329 6896
Business email:
janetll@tpg.com.au
Year became proprietor: 1996
Initially established in 1985 in Errol Street North Melbourne, ABC Quality Framing is a retail business, providing framing and all services relevant to art work and its preservation and acquisition.
Although having no previous expectation of becoming a ‘shop keeper’, Janet Llewellyn decided that she had the necessary skills in art, design, money management and public relations needed to run this small business, and she became owner in 1996.
In 2005 the business was moved to its current address in Queensberry Street, staying within the original precinct of North Melbourne, as Janet believes ‘it is a great suburb with a very strong community spirit’.
Ron Lobel
Business name: Aquaj
Business address: Shop M7/3 Southgate Avenue, Southbank 3006
Telephone: 03 9696 6614
Business email:
ron@aquadecor.com.au
Business website:
aquadecor.com.au
Year became proprietor: 2001
Ron Lobel and his business partner Renato Sorrenti started their business to bring beautiful and rare jewellery, decorative art, objet d’art and furniture from around the world.
Ron previously worked as an interior designer in New York and travels overseas frequently to source different and unusual items. Their unique items are hand selected from all over Australia, Asia and Europe.
The business offers a design and decorating service and will source particular items or pieces of art for individual clients. Their clients are local, national and international.
Glen Lucas
Business name: Lucas Real Estate
Business address: 1/401 Docklands Drive, Docklands 3008
Telephone: 03 9091 1400
Business email:
glen@lucasre.com.au
Business website:
lucasre.com.au
Year became proprietor: 2003
Having been involved in the real estate industry since 1983, Glen Lucas recognised that the Docklands precinct deserved a full service real estate agency that specialises in this specific area of Melbourne. Thus, Lucas Real Estate was created.
Commencing as a very small business with just three staff, Lucas Real Estate has grown over the past ten years to become a highly successful business that now comprises two offices with 18 staff providing a full range of property services.
Glen’s career in Docklands commenced before the first residents arrived, so he has enjoyed the opportunity to watch the growth of Docklands from the very beginning. He has found it a source of excitement and pride to have played a pivotal role in the establishment of Docklands as a sought after residential address.
Michael Maguire
Business name: The Primary Agency
Business address: 134 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne 3002
Telephone: 03 9416 4002
Business email:
mm@theprimaryagency.com
Business website:
theprimaryagency.com
Year became proprietor: [1989] 1990 within City of Melbourne
The Primary Agency is a marketing communications company specialising in rural, technical and government communications.
The business was started in the belief that understanding ‘what success looks like’ is fundamental to every successful organisation and, to this day, Primary uses the unique methods and tools it has developed to deliver its clients communications solutions that work.
Primary was established in 1989 and moved to the City of Melbourne in 1990. The company offers clients total communications solutions in advertising and design, public relations, and increasingly, communications and engagement. East Melbourne provides a professional, easy-to-get-to base for all clients, including those from interstate.
Renzo Mammolito
Business name: Renzo’s Bar Café Italiano
Business address: 46 New Quay Promenade, Docklands 3008
Telephone: 03 9640 0550
Business email:
info@renzosbar.com
Business website:
renzosbar.com
Year became proprietor: 2002
In 2002 when Renzo Mammolito opened Renzo’s Bar Café Italiano it was the first cafe and restaurant to open in New Quay, Docklands, which was a new waterfront area for Melbourne. His stylish and modern premises, overlooking the harbour, embrace the simplicity of traditional Italian food.
Pior to moving to Docklands, Renzo and his wife, Anna, had owned the well-known and successful Café Renzi, in Armadale. He and his family love being part of the relatively new area of Docklands.
Andrea Pannell
Business name: Andrea Yasmin
Business address: 20 Howey Place, Melbourne 3000
Telephone: 03 9650 7277
Business email:
andreayasmin@optusnet.com.au
Business website:
andreayasmin.com
Year became proprietor: [1994] 1997 within City of Melbourne
n the early 1980s Andrea Pannell lived in Thailand, teaching windsurfing and designing swimwear and casual clothing. On returning to her home town of London she worked as a buyer for designer ‘Joseph’.
Andrea travelled to Melbourne to visit relatives, saw a niche in the market for her European style and in 1994 started her own label which quickly became successful in boutiques across Australia. She opened her flagship store in Howey Place in 1997.
Andrea’s unique designs of ‘cutting edge meets classic chic’ are all made in Melbourne. She has a loyal following of customers, both local and interstate, who return for her feminine, sensual designs and her in-house styling.
Atul Patel
Business name: Superior Diamonds Pty Ltd
Business address: 906/220 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000
Telephone: 03 9650 1380
Business email:
superiordia@gmail.com
Year became proprietor: 1995
Atul Patel began his career with a part-time apprenticeship assorting rough diamonds while he was studying for a Bachelor of Commerce at university in Mumbai, India. He then moved on to learning polish assortment with pricing and estimating market value and also learning administration skills.
In 1993 he moved to Hong King to gain international exposure and experience and, after a brief return to India, came to Melbourne to start his own wholesale business, setting up in the Manchester Unity building in 1995.
Over the past 18 years Atul has gained the trust of customers in the jewellery industry. He believes that his business is built on the foundation of trust and honesty.
Marcus Rose
Business name: Charles Rose Jewellers Pty Ltd
Business address: 415 Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000
Telephone: 03 9642 8989
Business email:
marcus@charlesrose.com.au
Business website:
charlesrose.com.au>
Year became proprietor: 1995
In 1923 Charles Rose and his brother Nathan were watchmakers and jewellers in Metz, France. Nathan’s son, Frederick, immigrated to Melbourne in the 1950s as a young man. He worked in Howey Court as a wholesale jeweller and married Ina, an accomplished artist, who greatly influenced their son, Marcus.
Marcus qualified in law and commerce; however, he was drawn back to the values and visions of both his parents. He re-established Charles Rose as a fine bespoke jewellery house in Melbourne whilst at the same time studying and practicing as an artist. He now divides his time between jewellery and art. Charles and Nathan’s ethos of design and quality, romanticism and precision, continues in the business today.
Renato Sorrenti
Business name: Aquaj
Business address: Shop M7/3 Southgate Avenue, Southbank 3006
Telephone: 03 9696 6614
Business email:
renato@aquadecor.com.au
Business website:
aquadecor.com.au
Year became proprietor: 2001
Renato Sorrenti worked as a freelance interior designer before teaming up with Ron Lobel to establish Aquaj. The business started in 2001 and is still offering items that are either limited edition or one-off.
Both Renato and Ron travel overseas to source jewellery, decorative art, objet d’art and furniture. They buy and sell antique pieces and offer an appraisal service for decorative items. The Southgate location is in the centre of the arts and culture precinct of Melbourne and is an ideal location for this business selling beautiful and rare objects.
James Temelli
Business name: Temelli Jewellery
Business address: 1/259 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000
Telephone: 03 9639 5556
Business email:
collins@tj.net.au
Business website:
tj.net.au
Year became proprietor: 2003
Temelli Jewellery began in 1957 in Istanbul, Turkey and has continued in Melbourne as a manufacturing business, established in 1999 in the Manchester Unity Building.
James Temelli joined his father and brother in the family business in 2003. James began in sales and now does design work for individual clients, as well as being in charge of marketing and public relations. The workshop continues to operate in the Manchester Unity Building and the business has a retail showroom in the city as well as in suburban shopping centres.
Temelli Jewellery services a wide range of clients across Australia as well as overseas. Temelli Jewellery created the first Diamond Crown for the Miss Universe Australia organisation.
Michael Tenace
Business name: Il Solito Posto
Business address: Basement, 113 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000
Telephone: 03 9654 4466
Business email:
admin@ilsolitoposto.com.au
Business website:
ilsolitoposto.com.au
Year became proprietor: 1994
Michael Tenace is a second generation Italo-Australian whose earliest memories are of watching his grandmother with admiration as she prepared his meals. His business is an Italian restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in the city for over 18 years.
Il Solito Posto opened in 1995 and was one of Melbourne’s first basement restaurants. The business is a partnership between Michael and his childhood friend Theo Poulakis. When they came up with the idea of opening a restaurant in a laneway basement Michael was told he was crazy. Now it is part of Melbourne’s food and wine culture.
In 2011 the restaurant was extended and it continues to operate under the original formula of an Italian cafe / restaurant.
Roberto Ulas
Business name: TWM Consolidated
Business address: Level 1, Suite 104, 125 Swanston Street, Melbourne 3000
Telephone: 03 9547 3113
Business email:
maria@twmco.com.au
Business website:
twmco.com.au
Year became proprietor: 1997
Roberto Ulas learnt his craft under the watchful and guiding eye of his father, Sarkis, who established the business in Istanbul, Turkey in 1966. The family migrated to Melbourne in 1990 and in 1997 Roberto became proprietor of the business.
In the early 2000s, seeing a shift in the jewellery manufacturing industry, Roberto purchased a suite in the Century Building in Swanston St and began to focus on Australian made wedding rings, refining and also selling the tools and machines that help to create these beautiful pieces and all other pieces of jewellery.
Today the company supplies the jewellery retail trade, boutiques, artisans and universities with beautifully crafted wedding rings. It also holds an exclusive dealership with Indutherm, providing many of Australia’s manufacturers, government departments and universities with state of the art machinery, training and support.
Philip van Dueren
Business name: Outdoor Travel – Melbourne
Business address: Level 1, 361 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000
Telephone: 03 9670 7252
Business email:
info@toptentreks.com.au
Business website:
toptentreks.com.au
Year became proprietor: 2000
Thirty years ago Philip van Dueren visited Australia while travelling around the world. He managed to find a way to stay here and he indulged his love of travel by working in several agencies. In 1995 he joined Outdoor Travel – Melbourne, which started in Little Bourke Street in the late 1980s. In 2000 Philip became proprietor of the business, and he and his staff have continued to build on its expertise in selling active (often ‘bucket list’) holidays.
The business has moved between Little Bourke Street and Hardware Lane a few times, but stayed within the 'gearshop' area of Melbourne, where surrounding businesses have an affinity to its preferred mode of travel.