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Heritage Walk

LSC North Melbourne Heritage Walk

For over a century, LSC has been part of the fabric of North Melbourne. From humble beginnings to a national leader in security solutions, our journey is deeply rooted in these streets.

This self-guided walking tour traces the key locations that shaped our story—workshops, warehouses, and milestones that reflect a century of growth, adaptation, and innovation.

Walk Timeline

Stop Timeline

Walk Details

Duration: 45–60 minutes

Distance: Approx. 2–3 km depending on route

Start Point: Victoria Street

End Point: Locksmith Museum

AF Johnson Ironmonger 67-69 Victoria St, North Melbourne
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Where It All Began

1926 – late 1970s

Opened in 1926 by Aubrey Johnson, this site marks the origin of the business. Starting as a small ironmongery, it reflected his early experience growing up in a family hardware store and delivering goods as a boy.

As demand for security increased, locksmithing was introduced, laying the foundation for what would become a long-standing presence in the industry.

Johnson Hardware 120 Lygon St, Carlton
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Expanding Into Retail

1956 – late 1960s

Established in the mid-1950s, this Carlton store marked a move into dedicated retail hardware, bringing the business closer to everyday customers.

It strengthened local connections and supported steady growth beyond the original North Melbourne base.

Vic Market Stall F Shed Vic Market - Triple front roller door
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A Market Mainstay

1930s – early 1990s

Operating for over six decades, this Queen Victoria Market stall became a familiar and trusted presence within the local community.

It connected the business with generations of customers in one of Melbourne’s busiest trading hubs before being sold in the early 1990s.

Locksmith Supply Co 90-96 Leveson St, North Melbourne
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The Shift to Wholesale

1960 – 1974

In the early 1960s, this site became the company’s first dedicated wholesale warehouse and trade counter.

This marked a major shift from retail into supplying the locksmith trade, supporting a growing network of customers across the industry.

Locksmith Supply Co 509-511 Queensbury St, North Melbourne
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A Lesson in Growth

1974 – 1976

This move in the mid-1970s was intended to support expansion, but the warehouse space quickly proved too limited.

The short stay highlighted the pace of growth and reinforced the need for a larger, more suitable long-term facility.

Haddows/AFJ 514-516 Queensbury St, North Melbourne
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Continuing a Century-Old Legacy

1940s – 1990s

Acquired by Aubrey Johnson in the 1940s, this site was already well known as Haddow’s Hardware, with a history dating back to the mid-1800s.

Its purchase connected the business to a much longer local retail tradition before the site was eventually closed and sold in the early 1990s.

Locksmith Supply Co/LSC 140-158 Dryburgh St, North Melbourne
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Establishing a Lasting Base

1976 – present

Leased in 1976 and purchased in 1984, this site became the long-term headquarters of the business.

Originally built by Bosch in 1969 as a tool service centre, it provided the scale needed for continued growth and remains the operational heart of the company today.

LSC Commercial Hardware 695 Queensbury St, North Melbourne
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Expansion & Consolidation

2005 – 2015

Purchased in 2005 as part of a broader site acquisition, this location supported the commercial hardware division during a period of growth.

Operations were later consolidated back into the Dryburgh Street site in 2015 to improve efficiency and bring teams together.

Locksmith Museum 707 Queensbury St, North Melbourne
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Preserving the Trade

2026

Part of the former Armaguard site acquired in 2005, this building has been transformed in 2026 as part of the company’s 100-year anniversary.

The space showcases the history of the locksmithing trade and the company’s journey, bringing together tools, stories, and milestones to commemorate a century in the industry.

North Melbourne War Memorial Intersection King & Hawke Streets
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A Link to Wartime Service

1926

Unveiled in 1926, the North Melbourne War Memorial honours those who served and lost their lives in World War I.

It stands as a reminder of Aubrey Johnson’s wartime service and the generation whose experiences shaped the early years of the business.

From our beginnings in 1926 to becoming one of the most trusted security distributors in Australia and New Zealand, LSC has built a proud legacy supporting the security industry. Explore our timeline to discover the milestones, innovations and people that have shaped our company over the past century.

LSC 100 Year Timeline

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