Toowoomba’s Garden City Powdercoating owners Jacquie and Gavin Roberts sell business to Luke Duggan after 20 years

After leaving behind goldmining overseas for the pursuit of a better life in Australia, a longstanding couple in Toowoomba’s industrial sector are saying goodbye.

Gavin and Jacquie Roberts have sold Garden City Powdercoating to former schoolteacher Luke Duggan, after more than 25 years in the business.

When Gavin and Jacquie Roberts arrived in Australia from Zimbabwe with two children, they left behind a successful gold mining operation and all their family in the pursuit of something better.

“It was a big decision to move — it took three years to settle, one of you will be happy and then the other won’t,” she said.

“That was a huge change for me, I came with a three and five year old.

“It was a bit of a shock for me to have two kids and help with the business as well.

“We struggled a bit, it was a big change.”

But after two decades owning Garden City Powdercoating in Torrington, the couple have said goodbye to hundreds of customers as part of a “semi-retirement”.

After purchasing Tuff Bullbars as part of their 457 visa requirements, the couple snapped up the longstanding powder coating outfit and never looked back.

“We built that purpose-built building in 2008, and we had a few scary times during the Global Financial Crisis where we weren’t sure how it would go,” Ms Robert said.

“It could’ve been a failure but we made it work and lucky for us we’ve still got that building.”

Gavin and Jacquie Roberts have sold Garden City Powdercoating to former schoolteacher Luke Duggan, after more than 25 years in the business.

The business, which offers powder coating and sandblasting services for a range of customers, has now changed hands to former schoolteacher, business owner and “jack-of-all-trades” Luke Duggan, who becomes the third owner in its 29-year history.

While they had been slowly winding down prior to the sale, Ms Roberts said Mr Duggan was the right match as a potential successor.

“We thought Luke would be a really good fit and we know him and his character,” she said.

“We just thought this business needs someone like him – a small business guy who will grow it.

“We knew that the business could get back to a bigger size than it than it is now – it’s got the size.”

Mr Duggan, who has also coached rugby league and has two degrees, said he would look to expand both the scale and scope of the business to include spray painting.

Powder coating in action at Garden City Powdercoating.

“I’ve done work here with Gav for ages, so we’ve done work together for a long time, and there was an opportunity, and would it be a good change,” he said.

“I’ve got a lot of experience with spray painting, some experience with this, and we’re just playing it as we go.

“Another one of the big spray painters just got bought out this week so people are going to need some spray painting done.”

Mr Roberts said he was excited to see where Mr Duggan would take the business.

“This has been our baby, and we’d just hate to sell it to someone who would stuff it up, but we know Luke wouldn’t,” he said.

“He’s just going to grow it and he’s got the same morals as what we have got it and the same ethics.”

The Roberts, who will now focus on their small farm out at Hampton before deciding their next adventure, thanked Toowoomba residents for their support.

“We wanted to come to Toowoomba because it was regional and similar to the town we were in, especially the size,” Ms Roberts said.

“A lot of good friends have come about through the business and they’ll remain a big part of our lives.”

More than 500 people born in Zimbabwe now live in Toowoomba, according to 2021 Census data.