History

Humble beginnings back in 1899, Richard E Walters became a stall holder at the original Eastern Market, corner of Bourke and Exhibition streets Melbourne. Specialising in bird cages and lamp shades, R.E.Walters the company was born. 

As the business grew it relocated from the Market to Little Collins Street, and finally to Richmond, a real industrial suburb of Melbourne in the early 1900’s.

 Over the years R E Walters the company changed ownership, to the Young family and in the early 1960’s to the Porter family. Throughout this next period refrigeration, shelving and baskets were to become some of the main products being made, and the company introduced its first plastic coating line. 

In 1985 the company had another change of ownership to the O’Malley family. Still in the family today, R E Walters has seen many changes over the last 25 years. A partial acquisition of Andrews Wire in 1990 saw R E Walters relocate to larger premises in Footscray and again in 1994 to our current site of over 6000 square meters in Sunshine.

Our first CNC wire forming machine was purchased in 1996. This was the beginning of many to follow, as well as CNC mesh machines and robotics. With the acquisition of Shinex Wire in 2001 and a partial acquisition of Astor Wire in 2007, R E Walters from its humble beginnings has grown to become a leading Australian manufacturer in today’s modern and competitive world.

Much has changed over 110 years, but the pride in our name
‘R.E Walters’ is the one thing that will never change.