That’s right, we’ve been serving customers in all kinds of glass across Australia since 1924.

And while a century of service is a rare feat that we’re incredibly proud of, time has truly flown.

What started as a humble silvering business by Frank G. O’Brien in Allen Street Waterloo, Sydney, has steadily grown to become one of Australia’s most iconic brands delivering expertise in home and business glazing, vehicle glass repair and electrical and plumbing services.

• Today, O’Brien® is Australia’s leading
  vehicle glass repair, replacement and recalibration company, providing a national service to nearly 500,000 motorists in the past year,
• We’ve come a long way, and with a shared passion for excellence and a drive to exceed customer expectations, we will continue to serve customers with high-quality products and service when they need us. To commemorate this special occasion, and to highlight the ethos that has driven us for a century, we’ve decided to take you on through the O’Brien® decades.

The 1924 – 1939: humble beginnings.

Founded in February 1924 by Frank G. O’Brien, our journey began here. We may have been small in size to start, but we were bold in our pursuit of customer satisfaction and employee well-being, and that hasn’t changed.

In fact, it was this zeal for service that led Frank and his growing team to incorporate under the Companies Act in 1930, laying the foundation for our future success.

The 40s and 50s: the war effort.

From 1940-1959, we quickly expanded our services into domestic and commercial glazing, specialising in shatter-proofing shop fronts and larger businesses.

As the World War II threat approached Australia, we were quick to support the effort by manufacturing windscreens for Australian aircraft and hand mirrors for our troops.

It was a trying time, but in the true Australian spirit, we persevered and did everything we could to assist.

The 1960s: mergers and expansion.

The 1960s brought a more peaceful era in Australian history.

In a time of rapid growth and industry, we merged with fellow Australian company, Glass Supplies, allowing us to broaden the scope and capabilities of our complex glass manufacturing and processing.

In 1965, we relocated our company headquarters to Padstow in Sydney (where our head office remains today) and introduced  Armourplate Doors to secure retail shop fronts and large office buildings.

The 1970s: joining Belron Group.

In 1971, we were proud to become the first overseas limb of the renowned vehicle glass repair and replacement, Belron Group.

With the support of Belron and our now 350 employees, we continued to grow and excel in the industry and established two separate divisions: Windscreens O’Brien and O’Brien Glass.

In 1976, manufacturing of laminated windscreens and architectural laminates became integral additions to our service offering in glass.

The company renamed to O’Brien Glass Industries Ltd on 2 March 1978.

The 1980s: expansion and milestones.

The 1980s was an exciting era for O’Brien®, despite the challenging economic conditions.

We started with extending our footprint to 95 branches, employing 800 staff.

Our Building Glass division diversified its product range to introduce the O’Brien Lock Service.

The first ever TV advertising campaign was launched in 1983. This marked the beginning of a range of quirky, yet memorable ads to grace Australian TV (and became part of advertising folklore for those that grew up in this decade). By this time, we were sourcing more than twenty thousand tonnes of glass annually for our automotive business and we solidified our presence across the country by opening branches nationwide.

By the end of the decade, we also reached several significant milestones, including:

• 60 years of operations,
• 1000+ employees, and
• Manufacturing our millionth windscreen.

The 1990s: A branding and advertising focus.

As the 20^th century ended, we continued our upward trajectory.

We continued to achieve record sales growth and in 1996, we launched a new TV advertising campaign for Windscreens O’Brien, showcasing our side and rear vehicle glass replacement expertise, together with our convenient mobile service.

We also refreshed our logo during the 90s, incorporating the distinctive Belron red and yellow symbol, and began to place an increasing emphasis on our customer service – a trait which we are still recognised and applauded for today.

The 2000s: “O’O’O’ O’Brien®”.

After the turn of the century, our windscreen and glazing divisions united under one brand: O’Brien®.

We introduced a new fleet of vehicles across the nation, revitalised our branch signage and forwarded our focus on technical expertise with the establishment of the Technical Training Centre of Excellence for our Auto division.

Then, in April 2005, the iconic O’O’O’ jingle was registered, becoming synonymous with the O’Brien® brand you know today.

The 2010s: advanced tech and service expansion.

The 2010s brought significant advancements in global automotive technology and we introduced best-practice tools like the Glass Medic Repair Kit and 1-Tek®. A formidable partnership with Bosch was formed and O’Brien® launched an Australian first for the automotive industry, our Cal-Tech® ADAS Recalibration service.

Our TV commercials continued to highlight our care and expertise and featured Mark, and our customer surveys were moved online as we embraced the digital future, sought greater convenience, and enhanced our customer’s experience with a new design for our branches.

In 2018, we acquired Laser Plumbing & Electrical, further expanding our service offering to our customers.

The 2020s: doubling down on advanced tech.

The 2020s brought a tumultuous time with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. But as we did during the 1940s, we adapted and persevered.

With the increasing demand for our Cal-Tech® Recalibration services, we strategically expanded our O’Brien® AutoGlass branch locations right across the country and continued to advance our service by introducing the Advanced Repair Technology (ART) Chip Repair Kits and remote headsets for Cal-Tech®.

From 2020, the first of our Electrical and Plumbing franchisee members took up the opportunity to brand as O’Brien Electrical & Plumbing.

Our iconic O’O’O’ jingle gained renewed focus with its familiar sound played across TV, radio, and digital advertising, reaching an estimated 200M+ jingles heard each year.

2024: O’Brien turns 100!

In late February 2024, O’Brien® turned 100!

And while we’ve grown and changed significantly over the years, one thing we are proud of: O’Brien® is committed to the highest standards of quality service.

We’re excited to celebrate a century’s worth of experience, expertise, passion for customer service and pride in our workmanship, but we will never get complacent.

We know that the key to our success and growth over the decades has been the pride we take in our expertise, the quality of our workmanship and our dedication to providing first-class service to every customer.

In 2024, as for the last century, we’re committed to solving your problems with real care whenever you need us, as our leadership team expertly steers our company towards new horizons.

Get in touch with your local O’Brien® experts for vehicle glass, glazing, electrical or plumbing services here.

At O’Brien®, solving your problems is what we do.

Nothing is more satisfying to us than delivering the high-quality service you need with genuine care and expert support.

From vehicle glass, and home and commercial glass to electrical and plumbing services, our O’Brien® team is here for you.

So, call us today or find your nearest expert.

For more images from our history, click here.

The post Celebrating Our 100-Year Journey at O’Brien® appeared first on O'Brien.

If your property is not properly sealed and maintained, rain can get into the home potentially leading to mold and other problems. To help avoid this, check for loose flashings or deteriorated weather seals on the externals of the home, to prevent inconspicuous water entering and causing damage. 

Our O'Brien Plumbers recommend inspecting these areas annually to check signs of damage or decay. We recommend you engage a local plumbing expert to plug these seals for long lasting effects.

2.Gutter and Drainage System Overflow

Gutters help to protect the foundation and walls of your home because they divert water away from your home and its foundation. Gutters also help capture much needed rain water – if your rainwater tank is connected to your toilets, hose taps or washing machine, keeping your downpipes and gutters clean and having your pumps checked by a licensed plumber will ensure you don’t miss out on capturing as much rain water as possible.

Our O'Brien Plumbers recommend consulting a licensed, experienced professional.This may help to avoid more problems caused by water leaking into the building’s foundation and roof cavities.

3. Damage to Roof

Hail and rain can cause roof damage. Roof damage may appear as dents in metal and roof tiles or cracks on your roof tiles due to hail. If you notice any potential damage, get in touch with a licensed professional.

4.Clogging of household plumbing

During rainy weather household plumbing can become clogged or damaged. Blocked drains can lead to plumbing backflow and can cause problems in the home if not dealt with quickly. A blocked drain will usually be apparent, however, a number of signs to look out for include;

• An unusual smell coming from pipes or drainage
• Puddles or build up of water where it is slow to drain away or doesn’t drain at all
• A gurgling sound emerging from drains and pipes

To help prevent this from happening our O'Brien Plumbers specialise in drain cleaning with specific equipment that may be needed to make them operational again.

O'Brien Plumbers offer a range of services to help protect your home including:

• Hand augers and drain cleaning rods.
• Electric eels.
• High pressure water jetters.
• CCTV inspection of drains.
• Excavation and repair/replacement.
  

Our O'Brien Plumbers come highly experienced in troubleshooting these problems for you.

If you notice plumbing damage or require a licensed plumber to inspect your property contact the experts at O'Brien Electrical & Plumbing. 

The post How You Can Help Prepare Your Home For Adverse Weather Conditions appeared first on O'Brien.

Update 31 August 2021:

Please find below an update following the continued restrictions for NSW, VIC and ACT. We are still open and providing essential and emergency services as usual, with COVID Safe protocols.

In NSW, VIC and ACT O'Brien^® AutoGlass branches are operating as an essential service provider and will continue to offer both a mobile and branch service for vehicle glass repair and replacement, and branch service for safety camera recalibration. O'Brien^® Glass branches will also continue to offer home and business glass services as an essential service provider.

O'Brien^® AutoGlass in NSW
For NSW branches located in and affected by LGA’s of concern, we are operating a contactless service, and now a ‘Drop And Go’ service, which means that customers will need to place their key in a dropbox and leave their vehicle. Customer waiting rooms are also unavailable. Phone details will be displayed on the door for the customer to contact to discuss any job-related queries. Our O'Brien^® AutoGlass branches outside of these LGA’s will continue to also offer both a mobile and branch service for vehicle glass repair and replacement and branch service for safety camera recalibration.

O'Brien^® Glass in NSW
We are still providing emergency home and business glass services to all affected LGAs as an essential service provider. Please know that O'Brien^® adheres to COVID Safe protocols and offer a contactless service. Our O'Brien^® Glass branches outside of these areas are operating fully.

Please contact us on 1800 645 011 if you have vehicle, home or business glass damage, or any questions and one of our agents will be happy to help.

For the latest service updates and changes due to COVID, please check our COVID Update page and Status Tracker here.

Following the latest COVID guidelines, O'Brien^® would like to reassure customers that we are open and our O'Brien^® experts are available to provide essential vehicle and property glass repair and replacement services, and electrical and plumbing services in any affected areas and/or hotspots.

We are working on the latest lockdown guidelines and COVID safe practices including hygiene protocols, touchpoint sanitisation, contactless payment and mandatory wearing of face masks.

Don’t forget we can come to your home or work location as we do offer a mobile service. Check out your nearest O'Brien^® location here.

During these challenging and changing times, we continue to be committed to the safety of our customers, staff and the community and closely monitor the COVID-19 situation across Australia.

We want to reassure you that we’re still here to help. Where we can, we will continue to support our customers, and solve their problems with real care.

If you need help, our call centre continues to remain open 24/7. Call us anytime on 1800 059 829 that is convenient for you.

O'Brien^® AutoGlass services remain open!

We are operating to the new lockdown restrictions, which for our business, means we are still able to provide services to customers requiring emergency repairs.

As customers in states with restrictions can only leave home for certain reasons, we believe it is essential that your vehicle is safe and secure in the event you need to travel, which includes vehicle glass such as the windscreen.

In support and understanding of the requirements for people to stay at home, O'Brien^® is also able to come to you via our mobile service team.

If your vehicle has broken glass that will impact your safety or the security of your vehicle, please contact us for support. If you’re unsure, call us, and we can help you.

What to expect when making a booking?

When you call us, we’ll ask you a series of questions to ensure we can complete the work.

Our technicians will be wearing face masks and adhering to all the necessary hygiene restrictions in place, they may also carry out touchpoint sanitisation on your vehicle.

If your car has a forward-facing safety camera, we also offer a recalibration service after a windscreen replacement for many vehicle types.

O'Brien^® Glass services remain open!

Under the latest restrictions, we can repair the glass in your home or business for safety and security reasons such as broken glass in your windows or doors.

If you have a safety or security concern, you can contact us 24/7 to see how we could help you.

What to expect when making a booking?

When you call us, we’ll ask you a series of questions to ensure we can complete the work.

Our glaziers will come to the place of damage and advise how they will undertake the repair to address your safety or security concerns.

They will be wearing face masks and adhering to all the necessary hygiene restrictions in place.

O'Brien Electrical & Plumbing services remain open!

Our O'Brien Electrical and Plumbing businesses are independently owned and operated. Each business has its own COVID Plan in place. Click here to find your nearest location.

The post COVID Restrictions Update appeared first on O'Brien.

However, as with anything that involves heat, there’s always a need to be safety conscious. Everyone can experience scalding from hot water, especially children, the elderly and people with a disability.

This is why it’s important to have a safety-first attitude about your household water and your Hot Water System.

We reached out to our professional O'Brien Plumbing members from around Australia to share their top safety tips about hot water use and your hot water tank. Here’s their list to help you enjoy your hot water while keeping you and your family safe.

1. Install a tempering valve to minimise the risk of scalding.

To adhere to the Plumbing Regulations, The Australian Government requires that all new hot water systems should feature a tempering valve or have a thermostatic mixing valve installed.

A tempering valve helps ensure your hot water’s temperature will not exceed 50°C when it comes out of your tap – which is warm enough for baths and showers, but not too hot to cause scalding.

The below graph* shows how important it is to have a hot water tempering valve to avoid excess heat and the potential of resulting burns.

If you’re unsure if your hot water system has a tempering valve, speak to a professional Plumber today.

* Reference: Chris Riedy, Geoff Milne, 2013, Your Home, Australian Government, https://www.yourhome.gov.au/energy/hot-water-service

2. Immediately repair dripping hot water taps and leaking appliances, including the relief valve from your water heater.

Inspecting all components of your hot water system and undertaking repairs when necessary are both important steps to ensuring your water heater is performing well. A relief valve is an important part of this.
A relief valve protects storage water heaters by eliminating excess pressure in the hot water system.

However, if you’ve found your tank is leaking and that a bucket placed under the valve is being filled in just a day, it’s a sign that you may need to replace your hot water tank.

3. To prevent the growth of bacteria like Legionella, hot water storage systems for residential buildings must be heated to a minimum temperature of 60°C.

Bacteria like Legionella can be a serious health concern when present at high concentrations in your water. Heating your water at a temperature of over 60°C (in the tank – not at the tap, as per point 1) will help kill any bacteria.

It’s for this reason that we don’t recommend turning your hot water system off when going away on holidays. However, if you still choose to, ensure that the water is heated and stored above 60°C for at least 35 minutes before using it again. Just be aware that it can take some time to heat to that temperature after having been turned off.

4. Maintain your hot water system and have it serviced according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Regular hot water tank maintenance by a professional Plumber will help prevent issues and problems from occurring while keeping your tank running efficiently. This will give you peace of mind, knowing that your hot water system has been properly serviced.

Why is it important to follow hot water safety measures?

While we all love our hot water, observing these safety precautions will help minimise the risk of you and your loved ones from having an accident, and help prevent running out of hot water.

If you’re in doubt or have any questions, speak to one of our experts from O'Brien Plumbing who can provide you with the peace of mind when it comes to hot water safety.

Our expert O'Brien Plumbers are here for all of your hot water needs

We understand how vital it is to have a hot water system that is fully functional and safe.

To make sure your needs are met, we’re committed to undertaking quality inspections, performing repairs and installing effective replacements for your home’s hot water system.

Visit obrien.com.au today to find a plumber near you and we can start discussing your options.

When you call O'Brien Plumbing you can be sure you’ve called the experts.

The post Hot Water Tank Safety Tips For You and Your Family appeared first on O'Brien.