Queensland’s Alvey Reels to close after 102 years

Fishermen are rushing to get their last Alvey reel before the 102-year-old firm shuts its doors forever.

Glenn and Bruce Alvey at the Alvey Reels factory in Carole Park in Queensland.

IT HAS been the fisherman’s friend for more than a century, but the classic Alvey reel is soon set to be a collector’s item.

The 102-year-old Ipswich company this week announced it was shutting down its factory with only a limited amount of time before the warehouse would be emptied of stock.

Alvey spokesman Con Athans said while the company is currently sitting on significant supplies “there will be a structured sell down of all stock.”

All Alvey authorised retailers can sell product while stocks last but spare parts can only be purchased from Alvey online or preferably from outlets Tackle Land Sandgate, Charlton’s Fishing Redbank or Gardiner Fisheries Rainbow Beach.

The Carole Park firm, founded by Charles Alvey in 1920, has told customers that manufacturing is no longer sustainable due to “drastic cost increases and supply chain logistics issues.”

The company bought in local businessman Mr Athans as majority shareholder after facing an earlier cash crunch in 2018 and had looked to expand its export business.

Customers quickly took to the company’s Facebook page to lament the imminent closure of the firm. “Absolutely stunned ... another Aussie icon gone,” said one while another said “this is the end of an era.”

But Mr Athans said the ability to source raw materials at reasonable prices and Covid 19 disruptive staff shortages meant the firm had to shut its factory.

Bruce Alvey whose grandfather Charles Alvey started Alvey Reels in 1920. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

Alvey Reels will operate its warehouse until early 2023, but will then close permanently.

“We deeply regret this difficult decision, and while we commit to supplying as many of our products as we can for as long as we can, our immediate priorities are our loyal staff, our dedicated retailers and passionate supporters and customers,” Mr Athans said.

“We thank you all for your 102 years of support.”

Alvey was until 2018 owned by Charles’s great grandsons Bruce and Glenn Alvey.

The Queensland National Trust listed Alvey as an icon of the state along with the Fourex man and the Ekka due to its long association with fishing.

Operating from a small workshop at St Lucia, Charles Alvey initially produced about 20 reels a week and would catch the tram into Brisbane to deliver them to the warehouse.

Charles brought his son, Ken, into the business in the 1920s as custom grew.

Ken, a qualified pattern maker and draftsman, helped the business ramp up production and marketing efforts. When Charles died in 1945 aged 80, his grandson Jack joined the company.

Some of the original equipment used in Charles Alvey’s day is still used in the factory, which employed about 26 people.

Bruce Alvey noted in a 2015 interview with The Courier-Mail that the company is so old that its original advertising slogan “It’s the Alvey reel that fills the creel” is not readily understood today by modern anglers. A creel is a wicker basket used to hold fish.