SA Chapter HALL OF FAME

Web: www.mdt.net.au

In 1865, Alexander Forgie, a Scottish immigrant formed a partnership with Mr. W. S. Taylor who had established a building and undertaking business at Gawler in 1855. The business name from that date was known as Taylor & Forgie. There were five other firms in Gawler conducting funerals as a sideline to their main trade at this time.

Alexander had thirteen children, two of them, James and Alec, ran the business after the death of Mr. Taylor in 1880 and Alexander Forgie in 1902. The second generation from 1902 remained at 1 Tod Street, Gawler, concentrating on carpentry work rather than being builders as they had done in the 1880s. Taylor & Forgie kept up with the times, having the first motorised hearse outside of the Adelaide city area in 1925.

Alec had no children. James had three sons – Gordon, who worked in the business; James who was killed in France in 1918; and Clarence, who preferred the motor trade, running a Ford dealership. This made third-generation succession planning very simple for the Forgies. Gordon's ownership commenced in 1934.

Gordon had three sons – Frank and Graham, who worked in the business; and Don, who became a teacher. When Gordon retired the business was split, Frank taking the carpentry side and Graham the funeral side as well as the business name.

Graham (the fourth generation) in 1963 began the modernisation process with new plant and, after 100 years, new premises to cater for the expanding needs of their clients.

In 1984, Mark, Graham’s eldest child and his wife, Gizelle, purchased the firm of Taylor & Forgie, taking it into the fifth generation. They expanded the business to Elizabeth, conducting Smithfield & Elizabeth Funeral Directors, where the chapel cremation service was pioneered, along with refreshments and catering after funerals. In 1989, Taylor & Forgie opened the first private cremation facility in South Australia, currently the second largest crematorium in South Australia.

Taylor & Forgie has remained for five generations because each generation has had only one owner; it has not been divided – a practical lesson for today.

Taylor & Forgie were Inducted into the FBA (SA) Hall of Fame in 2002.