Our History

Pinnaroo's Oldest
Family Business

Founded in May 1908, Hanton & Sharrad proudly holds the distinction of being Pinnaroo's oldest family-owned business.

Established by partners J.W.T. Koch and A.H. Sharrad, the business originally traded as Koch and Sharrad and has remained an integral part of the district for more than a century.

Building a Reputation

In its early years, the business employed between 12 and 14 tradesmen, including blacksmiths, wheelwrights and painters.

Before the first workshop was even constructed, the founders cleared the land by hand and quickly became renowned for their craftsmanship.

The workshop produced:

  • Carts and buggies

  • Wagons and jinkers

  • Coachwork and farm equipment

  • Blacksmithing and engineering services

With four forges operating to meet demand, the business became well known throughout the region for the quality and durability of its workmanship.

Serving the Community

A.H. Sharrad also served as the local undertaker, a role that was later continued by his son, Clem Sharrad, until the mid-1950s.

Over the years, the business evolved alongside the changing needs of the district, supplying machinery, engineering services, timber, chemicals and hardware to local farmers and residents.

A Family Legacy

In 1922, Mr Koch sold his interest in the business to Mr Sharrad, and the company continued trading as A.H. Sharrad. Clem Sharrad joined as an apprentice in 1924 and, in 1931, he and James Hanton purchased the business, establishing the name Hanton & Sharrad.

One of their notable early projects was building a milk float for Bone's Dairy, the first vehicle in the district to be fitted with pneumatic tyres.

When James Hanton retired in 1955, his share of the business was purchased by Clem Sharrad's wife, Joyce.

In 1959, Barry Sharrad joined the business as an apprentice. Barry and his wife Nancy purchased the company on 1 July 1973 before handing the reins to their son, Jamie in the early 2000s.

In May 2026, after 116 years in the Sharrad family, the business was sold to a group of local directors: Alex Keough, Paul Kinnaird, and Wade & Chad Nickolls who are committed to the proud tradition of trading as Hanton & Sharrad.