1857
Godfrey Hirst born in Meltham Yorkshire and trained as a weaver at Marsden.
Global Flooring Solutions.
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.
160 years of local manufacturing
GH Commercial is privileged to draw on 160 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.
1883
Godfrey Hirst immigrated to Geelong, Australia. Employed as a weaver at the Albion Woollen Mill.
1886
Chief Secretary, Alfred Deakin, increases tariffs to protect the industry.
1888
Godfrey Hirst Resigned from Albion Woollen Mill and set up his own mill Godfrey Hirst and Partners.
1889
Godfrey Hirst and wool broker partner Charles Shannon purchase the Albion Woollen Mill and rename it Excelsior Number One Mill.
1890
Hirst and Shannon purchase the ailing Victorian Woollen & Cloth Manufacturing Co and rename it Excelsior Number Two Mill.
1903
Godfrey Hirst goes overseas.
1909
The business was incorporated as Godfrey Hirst & Co. Pty Ltd in October 1909
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 died in 1917 at his home, Royd Grange, in Belmont overlooking his mills. Willie Hirst appointed Managing direction.
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.
1968
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
Research unit set-up (Tybar Engineering Pty Ltd).
1971
Bendigo operation set-up.
1973
The Titan Revolution (the cutting-edge Titan manufacturing process developed).
1973
Purchase of the Returned Soldiers and Sailors Mill.
1973
Company wins a Prince Phillip Award.
1978
1,000,000 metres of Titan production recorded.
1980's
Carpet Marketers Co-Op purchased and Godfrey Hirst Wools Pty Ltd established to work directly with wool growers.
1980
Became one of the largest producers of wool carpet yarn in the world.
1983
Began exporting products and technology overseas.
1983
Godfrey Hirst New Zealand founded in three locations.
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
Benalla Spinners Mill set-up.
1993
Hycraft Geelong
1993
Won the Golden Thread Award.
1994
Canterbury Spinners Spinning Mill acquired (NZ).
1995
With a large market share of 50%, sales and marketing become a strategic focus for the company.
1995
The Great Flood at the Geelong Mill.
1995
Office set-up in the UK.
1995
Another new plant installation ($5 million worth of equipment).
1996
Investment in wool scouring operations in New Zealand.
1996
Won another Golden Thread Award.
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
Acquired Feltex Carpet.
2006
Winner of the Save Water Awards.
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
Banksia Environmental Foundation Award finalist.
2011
Winner of the Premiers Sustainability Award (Large Business) and overall winner for the Premier’s Sustainability Award.
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
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.
2019
Godfrey Hirst becomes a Strategic Partner with the Living Future Institute of Australia.
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.
2024
Hycraft rebrands to Hycraft by Godfrey Hirst.
2025
Celebrating 160 Years of Local Manufacturing.
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.
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.
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.