Our History

Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse is a proudly Australian-owned, family-run business that has been supplying new and used workshop and engineering equipment since 1930. Originally founded by John Edward Hare and Scottish engineer Henry Graham Forbes, the company began as scrap metal merchants in Redfern, Sydney.

In 1943, Henry Forbes retired and sold his share of the business to John Hare. Around this time, John’s son, Tom Hare, had already shown a strong entrepreneurial drive—buying and selling second-hand goods from the age of 13. By 18, he was running a competing venture, Hare Bros, with his stepbrother Jack.

As John’s health declined due to asthma, he decided to sell the business. At just 26, Tom purchased Hare & Forbes from his father. By the end of 1945, Tom and Jack were operating both Hare & Forbes and Hare Bros with a small team of five, taking advantage of surplus machinery from post–World War II auctions to fuel growth.

In 1952, Tom and Jack parted ways. Jack continued operating Hare Bros at 239 Botany Road, Waterloo, while Tom retained full ownership of Hare & Forbes at 116 Walker Street, Redfern.

In 1954, seeking to expand, Tom purchased land on George Street, Parramatta, and built a dedicated showroom and warehouse. This move laid the groundwork for the company’s long-term growth.

By the early 1960s, Tom handed the reins to his four sons—Ray, Robert, Alan, and John. While continuing to trade in second-hand machinery, the company began importing new equipment, marking the start of a significant evolution. In 1989, Hare & Forbes opened a new branch in Woolloongabba, Brisbane, extending its national presence, followed by a relocation to a larger Macgregor facility in 1994.

In 2000, the company rebranded as Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse and moved into a larger headquarters in Northmead, Sydney. Leadership transitioned to the fourth generation: Steve, Matt, Adam, Mike, Ben, Wayne, and Brad. Together with long-serving General Manager Rick Foster and a team of dedicated staff to lead the company forward, maintaining core values while embracing innovation and national growth.

The 2000s marked a period of rapid expansion. In 2002, Hare & Forbes acquired Herless Machinery—Melbourne’s largest machine tool supplier—gaining a footprint in both Melbourne and Perth. Between 2004 and 2018, branches in Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne relocated to significantly larger premises and Sydney expanded to include a dedicated 9000m2 warehouse and distribution centre to accommodate increased demand and expanded workshop and testing facilities.

International growth followed in 2008 with a new showroom and warehouse in Auckland, New Zealand. This facility was replaced in 2016 with a larger, company-owned site in the same area. In 2019, a second New Zealand branch was opened in Christchurch to support growth in the South Island.

Expansion continued in 2021 with the addition of a dedicated warehouse distribution centre in Melbourne, boosting stock capacity and supporting logistics for the Perth and New Zealand branches. Most recently, in 2024, a new warehouse and distribution centre opened in Adelaide to better serve customers across South Australia.

Today, Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse stands as one of Australia’s leading suppliers of engineering and workshop machinery, with five branches nationwide and two in New Zealand.

In partnership with over 30 trusted international agencies, we offer a comprehensive range of premium equipment—from CNC and conventional machines to woodworking tools, metalworking machinery, automotive restoration gear, and lifting and handling solutions.

Proudly independent and family-run for over 95 years, we are driven by the core values that have defined our journey: loyalty, trust, and exceptional service. Our experienced team provides expert technical support, tailored operator training, and access to one of Australia’s largest spare parts inventories—delivering reliability, value, and peace of mind for every customer.

At Hare & Forbes, customer care is more than a commitment—it’s the foundation of our success.
As we like to say: “When you purchase a machine from Hare & Forbes, it’s not just a sale—it’s a partnership.”


Timeline of Key Events:

1930 - Hare & Forbes was established by John Edward Hare & Henry Forbes at Redfern, NSW

1954 - Hare & Forbes moved to a new and larger showroom at Parramatta, NSW

1989 - Hare & Forbes Brisbane branch opened at Woolloongabba

2000 - Sydney head office moved from their Parramatta location to a new super showroom at "The Junction Complex" Northmead, with over 4000m² of display under one roof, along with the new business name of Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse

2002 - Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse acquired Herless Machinery, the largest machine tool company in Melbourne, this acquisition also included a branch in Perth

2004 - Brisbane branch move into a new and larger showroom & warehouse in Coopers Plains Brisbane

2008 - Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse launched the website www.machineryhouse.com.au

2008 – The company expands internationally opening a Machineryhouse showroom & warehouse in Auckland New Zealand

2018 - Melbourne branch moves into a larger showroom & warehouse in the industrial area of Dandenong South

2019 – New Zealand was rapidly growing so the decision was made to open a new Machineryhouse showroom & warehouse branch in the South Island, Christchurch

2024 - A warehouse and distribution centre was opened in Adelaide to better serve customers across South Australia

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