Sandown life member and former long time Director David Gleeson sent me this article his wife Pam spotted in regard to the passing of local Springvale identity, builder Harry Gunther. Among the many homes and buildings Harry’s family built was the now famous Greyhounds Entertainment Complex. Updated a number of times since opening in 1970 the building has stood the test of time.
VALE Harry Arthur GUNTHER
27/08/1944 – 05/10/2026
It is with deep sadness the Gunther family announce the peaceful passing of Harry, surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Springvale Hospital in 1944, attended Springvale State School and Dandenong Tech- carpentry and drawing.
The Gunther Family lived on 5 acres on a dirt road which was later named Gunther Ave Springvale. The name typically honours the early local Gunther family-Elizabeth ( Beat) and Oswald ( Ossie)- Harry’s parents lived in 33 View Road Springvale near the corner of Gunther Ave
Harry took up Boxing in his youth and became Junior Victorian Champion, in the Maurie Kirby era as a presenter.
He raced billy carts down the Dunblane Road hill. The Billy cart was called Flash and won the Soap box derby.
He played football for Sandown FC. Coached football as well. He played tennis as well.
He was a look out for a group of men playing two up , he used to climb up a tree on the racetrack to watch for police coming.
Harry built his family home in Gunther Ave
Harry also built a holiday home at Johnsville.
He was a gardener, fisherman , bee keeper and loved “old fashioned cars” , member of Ford V8 club, and especially rock music.
He volunteered at the Springvale Benevolent Society for 45 years.
Harry’s funeral was held at Springvale Town Hall.
Tradies making history- Dandenong Journal
“Back on 19/05/2016, Springvale’s Harry Gunther has seen plenty about the building industry change during his 50-year career.
Roofing isn’t one of them.
“We still have cement tiles, terracotta tiles and Colorbond roofing. It’s been like that for a long, long time,” he said.
“That’ll change before long. Something new will come along.”
And Mr Gunther would know. The 72-year-old only recently retired after starting out as a builder under his father’s guidance at the age of 15.
“And I had two sons and I taught them,” he said.
He shared his story at the We Built Dandenong – tradies of Dandenong reminisce event at Heritage Hill’s Benga House on 20 April.
It complemented the Let’s Build exhibition, on display at 80-year-old Benga until 24 June to share housing stories from the region dating back to the 1930s.
“Dandenong was a real good place,” he said.
“Building-wise it was going well. Factories, shops, they were all on the go.
“Everything was hardwood. It came down from Gippsland by train.
“Everything was done by hand when we first started off.”
He said places like Keysborough were “still going flat-out” but “it’s a different game now”.
“It’s more of a pre-fab frame, a lot of foam,” he said.
“I think the factories have changed – the tilt-up concrete, they’re very quick to build now.”
Mr Gunther said building was a good trade and encouraged kids to give it a go.
“They’re not as keen at the moment. They’re more into computers … they don’t like getting their hands dirty – but not all of them,” he said.
“They’ve got to be good with their hands and their head.”
If we don’t capture stories like this for our oral history they will be lost.
Back in 2016 Harry and other tradies reminisced
Key Themes & Reminiscences
Local tradies shared memories of how building and manufacturing worked in earlier decades compared to modern methods.
• Handcraft & Materials: Early builders noted that everything was done by hand and relied heavily on solid Australian hardwood brought down by train from Gippsland.
• Industrial Growth: Dandenong operated as a booming manufacturing and industrial hub, anchored by major plants like General Motors-Holden, Heinz, and International Harvester.
• Shift in Construction: Reminiscing tradies contrasted the older hand-built styles with modern methods, such as pre-fabricated frames, foam panels, and rapid tilt-up concrete construction.
We have much to be thankful for trades that were passed down from one generation to another and there was nothing that couldn’t be fixed by one who was interested in building or fixing things( even a home handy man) a bit of glue here or there, a nail or a screw even duck- tape it all worked. Nothing was thrown out as everything could be reused or remodelled.
A great story of a local family and a local family man who helped shaped the Melbourne and surrounds.
One of the family homes Harry built and lived in just at the back of the Club Bar in Gunther Ave.
The full story in regard to the Club Bar can be found here on the Website at.