David Provan was a carpenter and joiner, following in his father’s footsteps, and then went on to found two timber merchant businesses – Mulready, Provan & Clarke in 1903 and David Provan & Sons in 1923. An enterprising and resourceful man, his single-minded determination and sheer hard work assured success. He valued loyalty and pride in workmanship and this comes through in company advertisements of that time “Quotations with pleasure, large or small orders promptly executed, first class materials and workmanship”.

David was born in 1866 in Fitzroy, to Robert & Marion, one of nine children of whom only four survived. He started his apprenticeship with John Stone and Company, Timber Merchants of Fitzroy, and such was his pride in his workmanship that his first piece of furniture – a mantelpiece –  remains in the family today. Together with two workmates, he formed the company Mulready, Provan & Clarke in 1903 and they built their timber mill in Alexandra Parade, Fitzroy, from where they operated until a disastrous fire destroyed everything in 1923. The partnership dissolved and David set about resurrecting the business, setting up David Provan & Sons. A year later in 1924 they were operating their timber mill and yards at 62 Alexandra Parade, Clifton Hill, in the old Box’s Hair Curling Factory. It took determination and hard work to start again and he was aided by his sons & the support of Fitzroy chocolate company MacRobertson, who gave him floor space in their Smith Street factory until the Clifton Hill site was ready.

This relationship with MacRobertson enabled the Provan business to thrive in those early years supplying timber joinery, vats & trays as well as the large oregon posts, roof trusses, floor joists, beams and flooring for the many buildings built by MacRobertson for their chocolate business. Provan’s also made timber vats for leather tanning, for the leather and shoe industries which occupied large areas of Collingwood and Clifton Hill. In addition, they supplied top quality timber for local furniture makers, such as Foy and Gibson. David Provan & Sons made an astonishing range of products from doors, cabinets and stairs to roof trusses, flagpoles and church furniture. This wide product range, combined with the many local connections, set up Provan’s to be a very successful business which continued until 1966 when the business was sold to Mendy & Barry Rosenberg, also father and son, so continuing the tradition started by David. Such was the standing of Provan’s, as a local icon and in the building trade, that the Rosenbergs retained the name Provan’s for their business and are still operating in Clifton Hill today. The business moved in 2015 from 62 Alexandra Parade to 457 Hoddle Street.

And what of the man himself? David married Esther Belfield in 1889 and they produced eight children, of whom only five survived infancy. He was a hard-working family man with strong values and a commitment to his local community. Early on he saw the need for a technical school to train young boys in the various trades needed in the timber and building industries. He was a founding member of the Committee of the Collingwood Technical School from the start in 1912 and continued to be involved until his death in 1931. His concern for his workers was shown when he taught himself sign language in order to be able to employ and communicate with his deaf workers. His three sons, Bob, Ed and Albert worked in the business and a number of his grandsons did their apprenticeships at Provan’s, making it a truly family business. The door from Alexandra Parade was saved when the building was acquired by the State Government and is on display at the Hoddle Street premises. (see photo).

It is a testament to the standing that David Provan had in the community that the boys of the Collingwood Technical School formed a guard of honour along Johnston Street, outside the school, for his funeral cortège as it passed on its way to Melbourne General Cemetery in 1931.  

Provan & Sons with workmen

Taken from Alexandra Parade to Hoddle Street

5 Gordon Street

The Age; The Argus; Fitzroy City Press; Provan Family Archives.