J. Larsen Pty Ltd is one of Australia’s oldest locksmith companies.
Founded in 1917 in Fortitude Valley (Brisbane) by Danish immigrant, Julius Jens Peter Larsen, owned and operated by the third and fourth generation.
From humble beginnings when keys were cut by hand with a file, J. Larsen Pty Ltd has grown to a medium sized business employing over 30 staff equipped with computerised machinery to originate keys to code and maintain extensive lock systems.
We are also one of the founding members of the Master Locksmiths Association of Australasia (MLAA).
In 1983 a decision was made to invest in lock manufacturing and a factory was established in the Narangba Industrial Estate just north of Brisbane. In 1991 the company established it’s head office, retail shop and warehouse distribution centre at it’s current location in Albion.
The company now manufactures it’s own range of key blanks, lock cylinders and padlocks under the ‘OZ’ brand name and our wholesale division supplies locksmiths throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Further innovation led to the development and manufacture of ‘OZ’ Restricted Security Key Systems and these have now been installed by thousands of businesses across Australia to help safeguard their premises. In fact, ‘OZ’ has become the benchmark for restricted security keys in Australia.
The company also represents several overseas manufacturers and imports a wide range of lock related products from around the world.
After over 100 successful years, our commitment to become Australia’s leading lock manufacturers and stockists of allied products in continuing to be fulfilled. We work within a framework which guarantees you, the customer, our personal attention at all times.
Our History
Evening News (Sydney, NSW), Friday 10 May 1929, page 4
WAS TOO SAFE
CAIRNS, Friday.
PILOT BRAIN, of Qantas, was again in the limelight yesterday, when he arrived by ‘plane from Brisbane with Mr. Larsen, lock and safe expert of Chubb and Co., who was required to open the strongroom of the Cairns branch, of the Commonwealth Bank.
Vain efforts had been made, to open the strongroom. The ‘plane landed at Hambledon at 4.30 pm., having left Brisbane at 1.30 p.m. Mr. Larsen was engaged until a late hour last night, and the safe was eventually opened, but a hole had to be knocked in the wall. It is believed that the trouble was due to a break down of the combination lock, but officials would say nothing, regarding the matter. Other Cairns banks supplied sufficient cash to carry on. The Commonwealth Bank Inspectors are at present in Cairns on the usual inspection.
Maryborough Chronicle (Qld.), Wednesday 24 August 1949, page 3
Locksmith To Open Bank Strongroom
BRISBANE. August 23.— A locksmith, Mr. J. Larsen, left Brisbane this afternoon for Cunnamulla to open the strong room of the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney. Only the strongroom and chimney of the wooden bank building were left standing after an early morning fire.
Mr. Larsen will not reach Cunnamulla until tomorrow night and in the meantime, police are guarding the strong room.
The bank’s Brisbane manager, Mr. Wilson Kerr, said tonight that bank officials hoped to find the contents of the strongroom intact when it was opened. There was a danger if it was opened too suddenly that the rush of air might cause a fire to break out.
Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Friday 26 August 1949, page 3
Money in Bank’s Strongroom Intact
BRISBANE. August 25. — Money in the inner safe of the strongroom in the building of the Cunnamulla branch of the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney was recovered intact today. The building had been destroyed by fire on Monday.
After two hours’ work the strongroom was opened by Mr. J. Larsen, Brisbane locksmith, after crowbars had been used to force the door. Mr. Larsen said later that the small safe inside the strongroom opened easily and was not affected by the heat in any way.
