In 1999 and again in 2004, in recognition of its commitment to family business best practice, Tobin Brothers Funeral Directors received FBA’s Family Business of the Year Award (Third Generation Category).
Tobin Brothers Funerals is later inducted into the ‘Family Business Australia Victoria Hall of Fame’ in 2013.
Tobin Brothers Funerals launches a Greek Funerals division headed by Nick Kourtessis to accommodate the needs of our growing Greek community.
Tobin Brothers Funerals proudly supports many community groups and events to strengthen community ties and be consistently active in their networks.
In October 1998, Tobin Brothers Funerals, in partnership with Greening Australia, Parks Victoria and Melbourne Water, launched a new memorial program called Tribute Trees. Twice yearly, at the Upper Yarra Reservoir Park in Autumn and Spring, bereaved families were invited to attend a memorial service and to plant indigenous trees, shrubs and grasses in memory of their loved ones.
When the program concluded after thirteen years in October 2011, close to 15,000 people had planted more than 35,000 Tribute Trees in an area of 2.75 hectares and in so doing had made an important contribution to the environment.
Martin Tobin succeeds his father Des as Managing Director in 1998
(pictured in the Board of Directors in 1999)
On 21st February 1995, Tobin Brothers Funerals opened its ‘Legacy of Life’ Chapel in Sunshine in the old fire station building on Hampshire Road, strengthening the family’s long term links with the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade. The Tobin Brothers, Leo and Phonse, who started the business were actually members of the fire brigade while they ‘moonlighted’ making coffins so this was a significant turn of events. The old brass fire hat of Leo Tobin sits in the Tobin Brothers Museum today.
(On 15th January 2026, Tobin Brothers closed the Sunshine Branch location, concluding 30 years of operation at this site).
Tobin Brothers Werribee Chapel opened on 12th August 1993. A plaque in the Tobin Brothers museum reads:
‘To commemorate the opening of this chapel a time capsule containing company history and records was placed here by Mr Leo J Tobin, a Director of Tobin Brothers PTY LTD on August 12th, 1993’.
The North Melbourne Chapel was renovated and reopened on 1st March 1992 by Alphonsus and Kevin Tobin, in memory of their late brothers and fellow co-founders Leo and Thomas Tobin. The renovation included a new pergola and stained glass windows in the chapel which are still in the chapel today.
The company’s growth led to a significant increase in staff numbers and the need to enlarge the vehicle fleet, a vital element in the company’s day-to-day operation.
Leo T Tobin, third generation family member and grandson of the founding Leo Tobin, purchases the company’s prestige hearses and coaches, all of which are built in Australia and the fleet continues to expand and evolve today:
“The body builders we use to customise our hearses do an exceptional job. The investment is substantial in dollar terms but the vehicle life is some eight to ten years, so, whilst the outlay is expensive, the value we receive is second to none.” – Leo T Tobin
Tobin Brothers Funerals take great pride in maintaining their own fleet of vehicles, which are also driven by the company’s staff to ensure that the Tobin Brothers high standard of care is consistent in every aspect of the Funeral Service.
The first funeral conducted by Tobin Brothers Funerals was for Ena Margaret Price in 1934. In its first year, the company conducted 53 funerals and after the payment of creditors and the collection of debts, it made a modest profit.
