Dahlsens Family Companies is one of Australia’s leading trade-focused building suppliers, proudly family owned and operated for more than 145 years. Founded in 1877 by Johan Christian Dahlsen in Bairnsdale, Victoria, the business has grown from a small local timber yard into a trusted national network that continues to serve builders with dedication, expertise, and integrity
Who we are
Today, Dahlsens is Australia’s largest independent supplier of building materials and truss and frame.
Through Dahlsens, Cairns Hardware, Nortruss Hardware, Gorrkbuy Industrial Supplies, Herbert Hall Hardware, and Townsville Hardware, our wholly owned subsidiaries support residential and commercial builders across Victoria, New South Wales, the ACT, Far North Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia.
With more than 70 locations nationwide and a team of over 1,800 people, we provide builders with whole-of-house solutions from truss and frame through to cladding, doors, windows, roofing, and outdoor living products.
Our scale allows us to deliver on time and in full, while still offering the personal, local service of a family business.
Australia-wide coverage
Our subsidiaries are well placed to assist you with projects in their regions. Please contact the respective business directly for further details and to establish an account:
Victoria and New South Wales / ACT:
Dahlsens — Supplier of building materials, hardware, truss & frame, timber
Queensland:
Cairns Hardware — Consider It Done!
Townsville Region, QLD:
Townsville Hardware
Northern Territory and Northern WA:
Nortruss Hardware — Broome, Darwin, Nhulunbuy
Charters Towers, QLD:
Herbert Hall Hardware
Our purpose and values
As a sixth-generation business, Dahlsens is built on relationships and responsibility. Our mission is to be the supplier of choice, adding value to the building process with materials and innovative solutions, while delivering an unsurpassed level of service excellence
We live by values that guide everything we do:
Take responsibility
Everyone contributes
Grow
together
Our Circle of Care
At Dahlsens, care starts with our people and radiates outward—to our work families, our customers, and the communities we serve. It’s how we make decisions and how we show up every day.
We live by values that guide everything we do:
|
Self: We take responsibility for our actions and safety, so you can count on us. |
|
Family: We support our work families and partners because great outcomes are a team effort. |
|
Customers: We deliver expert service and on-time supply, helping builders stay on track. |
|
Community: We contribute locally and act responsibly, building stronger regions together |
Community commitment
Dahlsens Family Companies is proud to be more than a supplier — we are a partner in the communities we serve. From providing disaster relief during floods and bushfires, to sponsoring local sporting clubs, supporting Indigenous initiatives in Far North Queensland, and assisting customers in times of hardship, our commitment to giving back is part of who we are
Looking ahead
While much has changed since Johan Dahlsen first opened his timber yard, our promise remains the same: to help builders succeed. By combining deep local knowledge, reliable service, and national strength, Dahlsens Family Companies continues to shape the building industry while staying true to its roots as a family business.