Bringing you the brands you know and trust

As a house of market leading brands, distributing Godfrey Hirst, Feltex and Mohawk Group flooring products, GH Commercial is the Oceanic subsidiary of Mohawk Industries, the world’s largest flooring company, offering a global network of leading products.

Over 150 years of local manufacturing

GH Commercial is privileged to draw on over 150 years manufacturing experience in Australia and New Zealand through Godfrey Hirst operations. The Godfrey Hirst name is truly synonymous with Geelong, dating back to 1865 when the Victorian Woollen and Cloth Manufacturing company was established as one of Victoria’s first textile mills

    1865

    Established as one of Victoria’s first textile mills (Victorian Woollen and Cloth Manufacturing Company).

    1868

    The first textile auction.

    1869

    HRH Duke of Edinburgh accepted a suit of clothes manufactured by the mill.

    1870

    Albion mill opens.

    1873

    Gold medal prize at the London International Exhibition in Melbourne.

    1874

    Union mill opens and Barwon mill begins weaving.

    1875

    Fire at Barwon Mill.

    1880

    Godfrey Hirst and Charles Shannon arrive in Australia and establish Excelsior Mills.

    1886

    Chief Secretary, Alfred Deakin, increases tariffs to protect the industry.

    1890

    Purchase of the Barwon Mill on adjoining site by Godfrey Hirst.

    1899

    Victorian Mill purchased by Godfrey Hirst.

    1903

    Godfrey Hirst goes overseas.

    1910

    New engine room developed at the Victorian Mill.

    1911

    Tenders called for mill electrification.

    1912

    Another fire strikes the Barwon Mill. Godfrey Hirst returns to England to find a replacement plant.

    1915

    Record profits made.

    1917

    Godfrey Hirst passes away. Willie Hirst appointed Managing Director.

    1921

    Profits soar. Company cricket team established and provided with a pitch and equipment.

    1922

    Charles Shannon passes away. New dining hall opened by Mrs. Hirst.

    1923

    7 looms and other plants purchased.

    1925

    Willie Hirst dies. Lewis Hirst now Managing Director.

    1925 - 1935

    Tough market conditions ensue.

    1951

    Lewis Hirst dies. Cedric Hirst, Godfrey Hirst’s grandson, becomes Managing Director.

    1952

    A record flood hits.

    1965

    Plaque to commemorate the founding of the mill installed in the old bluestone walls.

    1966

    Company acquired with a clear focus on a carpet production versus others textiles.

    1968

    Standard management systems and early computing technology introduced.

    1970

    Purchase of Challenge Mill in Sydney, NSW.

    1971

    Bendigo operation set-up.

    1971

    Bendigo operation set-up.

    1971

    Research unit set-up (Tybar Engineering Pty Ltd).

    1973

    Company wins a Prince Phillip Award.

    1973

    The Titan Revolution (the cutting-edge Titan manufacturing process developed).

    1973

    Purchase of the Returned Soldiers and Sailors Mill.

    1978

    1,000,000 metres of Titan production recorded.

    1980

    Became one of the largest producers of wool carpet yarn in the world.

    1980's

    Carpet Marketers Co-Op purchased and Godfrey Hirst Wools Pty Ltd established to work directly with wool growers.

    1983

    Godfrey Hirst New Zealand founded in three locations.

    1983

    Began exporting products and technology overseas.

    MID 80'S

    Start to focus on commercial market requirements, in-particular colourful designs for the hospitality segment.

    1989

    Singapore office established.

    1992

    Office set-up in Toronto, Canada.

    1993

    Won the Golden Thread Award.

    1993

    Homfray/Hycraft Carpets purchased.

    1993

    Benalla Spinners Mill set-up.

    1994

    Canterbury Spinners Spinning Mill acquired (NZ).

    1995

    Office set-up in the UK.

    1995

    The Great Flood at the Geelong Mill.

    1995

    With a large market share of 50%, sales and marketing become a strategic focus for the company.

    1995

    Another new plant installation ($5 million worth of equipment).

    1996

    Won another Golden Thread Award.

    1996

    Investment in wool scouring operations in New Zealand.

    1996

    Riverside Textiles Mill established for yarn processing (twisting and heat setting).

    1996

    Total carpet production hits 4.2 million metres.

    2000

    Investment in carpet tile manufacturing gives Godfrey Hirst a commercial advantage.

    2005

    Winner for the Greenhouse Challenge Plus Award.

    2006

    Winner of the Save Water Awards.

    2006

    Acquired Feltex Carpet.

    2009

    Water Treatment and Recycling facility commissioned on Geelong site.

    2010

    Godfrey Hirst launches Triexta carpets (originally markted under the brand name eco+) , the first new fibre type since nylon in the 1950s.

    2011

    Winner of the Premiers Sustainability Award (Large Business) and overall winner for the Premier’s Sustainability Award.

    2011

    Banksia Environmental Foundation Award finalist.

    2014

    Hard flooring portfolio introduced (timber, laminate, bamboo and vinyl).

    2017

    First company to launch Hybrid hard flooring to the Australian market.

    2018

    Godfrey Hirst becomes part of the Mohawk Industries family, one of the worlds largest flooring companies.

    2019

    Godfrey Hirst becomes a Strategic Partner with the Living Future Institute of Australia.

    2019

    The GH Commercial brand was born, as the commercial division of the business came together as an umbrella brand, offering a suite of products under market-leading brands.

    2020

    Godfrey Hirst triexta carpet becomes the first residential carpet to be Declare® Red List Free certified.

    2021

    GH becomes first Australian carpet manufacturer to be Climate Active accredited organisational status.

1865

Our History

Godfrey Hirst was an Englishman, trained as a weaver in his family business who moved to Victoria in search of a warmer climate. He began work at the Victorian Woollen & Cloth Manufacturing Co, but soon launched his own business venture manufacturing flannels in 1888. Despite the lull in the industry, Hirst did well and moved to a larger premises in 1889 and in partnership with Charles Shannon, a woolbroker, and Charles Smith, a fellmonger, bought the derelict Barwon woollen factory in July 1890.

Over the years, the company evolved into manufacturing blankets, rugs, tweeds and worsteds as well as flannels. After the death of Charles Smith in 1908, the business was incorporated as Godfrey Hirst & Co Pty Ltd in October 1909. In 1966, Godfrey Hirst Co was acquired with a clear focus on carpet production versus other textiles. Fast forward to 2006, 40 years later Feltex Carpets Limited was acquired by Godfrey Hirst & Co Pty Ltd. In 2018, Godfrey Hirst was acquired by Mohawk Industries, the world’s largest flooring company.

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Proudly Australian and New Zealand Made continues

Today, thousands of metres of carpet are produced in our facilities in Australia and New Zealand, and both our carpet and hard flooring are supplied to major commercial projects in all market segments across workspace, retail, hospitality, healthcare, aged care, education, public space and multi-residential in Australia and New Zealand and around the globe.

Our local investment in people, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution provides total supply chain capability, ensuring quality control and consistency from product design, right through to delivery. We are proud to have a loyal and long serving inclusive and diverse workforce while managing organisational renewal to ensure excellent mix of new thinking and deep knowledge.

We proudly operate four carpet manufacturing facilities, three yarn processing facilities, 10 distribution centres, and 14 sales offices across Australia and New Zealand. Currently, Godfrey Hirst employs over 1,000 people, of which roughly half are employed in Australia and half in New Zealand.

Global Flooring Solution Provider

At GH Commercial, we offer the largest portfolio in the world, featuring products that people trust to use in the spaces they live, learn, work, play and rest. Through our local in-house design, manufacturing and distributing facilities, we provide locally based support with our passionate and knowledgeable design and sales teams. From high quality Australian and New Zealand Made wool and synthetic carpets, and an extensive range of carpet tiles and planks along with world class hard flooring solutions in hybrid, timber, laminate and vinyl our goal is to connect you with the right product and make specifying flooring for your next project a breeze.

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Believe in Better®, our approach to sustainable business.

Our future depends on the work we to today. Our commitment to our planet extends beyond just products and processes: it’s how we challenge ourselves to do and be better every day; how we make decisions; how we reinvest in our people and our planet; how we define what matters most as we work to deliver value for generations to come.

Our approach to sustainability is all about making the world better. We capture this in three powerful pillars of People, Performance and Planet in everything we do.

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