Our History

Stubbs Wallace have been taking care of business in the Shepparton and surrounding areas for quite a long time – since 1897 in fact. We have a wonderful history, and amazing experience in dealing with all kinds of business over the years.

1897

In September 1897 John Stubbs open a sole practice accounting firm in Shepparton where for the next 30 years he built the company into a prominent accounting and auditing firm for many of the districts major private and government organisations.

1922

The Ardmona cannery had its first annual meeting with the auditor being John Stubbs. Pickworth Orchards, a valued long standing client of Stubbs Wallace was represented on the Board of Directors by an ancestor of current day director, Mr Stuart Pickworth.

1930

Vic Stubbs joined with his father prompting a name change to Stubbs and Son, and a new chapter commenced.

1935

With the desire of Vic to expand the business, 1935 saw him join with Jim McNeil and Neil Dennis as partners, expanding the firms auditing of the local cannery – SPC.

1939

World War II begins.

1940

With the passing of John in 1940 Vic Stubbs assumed senior partner. John Stubbs had been an active member of the community for many years including as secretary of the Shepparton Cemetery Trust for 38 years. He had also maintained other business interests in Shepparton, one such being a motor garage on Wyndham Street.

1942

Neil departed in 1942 to join SPC as a senior executive, until his retirement some 25 years later.

1946

Jim retired leaving Vic as sole proprietor of the firm with five staff members.

1953

The firm was operating from the old AMP building situated on Wyndham Street, Shepparton.

1956

The story of Stubbs and Son entered a new chapter, the same year that the torch of the Melbourne Olympics was brought through Shepparton. For almost 60 years the firm had remained in the Stubbs family, but with the retirement of Vic the firm was purchased by local Shepparton accountant Errol Wallace. To the firms name he added  his own – renaming it “John Stubbs, Wallace and Co” and was operating with a staff of six employees.

1960

The firm has by now grown to include a staff of 12 members and has moved to the old CML building on the corner of Wyndham and High streets.

1965

Whilst Vic Stubbs had plans to expand the business into other towns it wasn’t until 1965 under Errol that this came to fruition, establishing the firms first Branch office in Kyabram.

1969

Closure of the Kyabram branch to ensure greater concentration on the Shepparton operations.

1972

Saw Errol join partners with Ken Tyquin, Albert Kellock and Brendan Kelly, and with the new partnership the firm was renamed “Stubbs Wallace and Partners”

1973

Whilst the Kyabram office may have closed, Stubbs Wallace and Partners continued to expand with the purchase in 1973 of a practice from Keith Kitchen in Jerilderie. Brendan Kelly was involved in the development and structure over the initial years, and a staff of two employees was maintained at the office.

1977

Purchase of a Euroa office in Railway Street from Neil McKernan, Brendan Kelly assumed responsibility with Ken Tyquin, performing a similar role for Jerilderie.

1978

Continued growth saw more changes for the firm along with the demand to relocate to the larger premises of 158a Welsford Street. With the advent of the PC came a major computer acquisition for the firm. The first computer in the firm was a huge beast by today’s standards, with no hard drive and had less than 512 K memory. Accountants had to change the way they worked and this was the start of the firms heavy commitment to technology.

1982

Gradual growth and the need for more storage space prompted extensions to the rear of the building at 158a Welsford Street, Shepparton.

1983

Errol Wallace retires after 27 years as principal, coinciding with the appointment of Ian Nalder and John Lyle to partners. With his retirement, the firm maintained a partnership of 5 and a staff of 13 (including two personnel at the branch office of Jerilderie and 3 at Euroa).

1984

Stubbs Wallace and partners acquired the practice of Joe Goyen. Partners and staff then totalled nineteen.

1985

Bill Lee joined the partnership becoming the sixth partner. The introduction of Capital Gains Tax in September saw a major change to Australia Tax laws.

1986

John Lylen left to take up a Finance Manager position with the Shepparton News Group.

1989

Expansion continued with the purchase of chartered accountancy firm Doug Wastle and Co. in Finley, and the retention of his four staff members.

1990

Ken Tyquin partner for 26 years retires. The firm’s Euroa office was sold to branch manager Noel O’Meara, who had been managing the office since 1979. Noel continued to practice under the name “Noel O’Meara and Associates”.

1993

Albert Kellock retired from partnership. In October of the same year, extensive flooding to the Shepparton region affected Stubbs Wallace and Partners with water flooding storage facilities under the Welsford Street building, destroying many of the old tax and office records.

1997

The Shepparton Practice of Albert Borzillo’s was acquired – the same year the firm celebrated its Centenary. On May 31st, Stubbs Wallace and Partners held a Centenary reunion of past and present at the Shepparton and Baringa Centre to celebrate.

1998

The partnership dropped to 3 until Thomas Chick joined.

1999

The Shepparton office at 158a Welsford Street was extended again, this time creating a new entrance at 160 Welsford Street and adding much-needed space to the building, which now houses 4 partners and 15 staff members.

2003

Brendan Kelly left the partnership to open his own financial planning business – Strategic Wealth.

2006

Change of name to Stubbs Wallace Pty Ltd.

2008

Appointment of Adam Purtill to Director, located at the Finley and Jerilderie offices.

2010

July saw Bill Lee step away from the role of director after 25 years and Karen Collins joined the directorship.

2011

In December Ian Nalder resigned as director after 29 years.

2012

Closure of the Jerilderie office.

2014

Thomas Chick resigned as Director in June of 2014.

2017

Purchased of accounting firm in Deniliquin.