Tobin Brothers were named the 2025/26 Legacy Family Business Award winners for Victoria & Tasmania. The award was accepted by 4th Generation family member, Brydie Hull, at the Family Business Insights VIC/TAS Conference.

Family Business Association (FBA) states that Tobin Brothers Funerals “have not only changed the industry, they have been the benchmark for quality service and ethical practice. Now in their 4th generation this family business has had a long pioneering history expanding the business to include a 24-hour advice line, a Foundation supporting communities, a national training arm, an app, and a catering service. Their reputation has been built over generations, caring for families and ensuring their loved ones are treated with dignity.”

During the early 1930s, while the world was gripped by the effects of “The Great Depression”, four brothers dreamed of a better future. Leo, Phonse, Thomas and Kevin Tobin pooled their limited available funds and at the time could not have envisioned that they were about to commence what has become Australia’s largest independent and family owned funeral business. Through hard work and their combined strengths, they grew the business steadily so that the second, third and fourth generations could realise and expand on the dream of these remarkable siblings.

The first funeral conducted by A.V Tobin (now Tobin Brothers Funerals) was for a four year old girl, Ena Margaret Price on Thursday 22nd February 1934. Ena was the daughter of Thomasena and Robert Price, and the granddaughter of Jim Dodds – a friend and Melbourne Fire Brigade colleague of Leo Tobin.

In its first year, the company conducted 53 funerals and the brothers were greatly encouraged by this start and the modest profits made. In 1935, its second calendar year, AV Tobin conducted 144 funerals and the trend continued over succeeding years.

Tobin Brothers Funerals’ first main branch location on Glenferrie Road (Cnr Stanhope Street) Malvern. Opened in the early 1940s where it remained until the early 1960s.

Today, Tobin Brothers Malvern is found at 1382 High Street, Malvern.

As the war-torn years of the forties surrendered to the innocence of the fifties, a second generation of Tobins joined the now thriving company, the first of whom was the late Leo James Tobin.

Following Leo J Tobin into the company as second generation members of the family were Phonse’s sons, Desmond (Des) and Gavan, Thomas’ son Michael, and Kevin’s sons, Geoffrey (Geoff) and Hugh.

Leo J Tobin joined in 1950, Des in 1961, Geoffrey in 1963, Michael in 1968, Gavan in 1984 and Hugh in 1993.

The Funeral of Most Rev. Daniel Mannix, Archbishop of Melbourne at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne in November 1963, the first televised funeral in Victoria and believed to be the first televised funeral in Australia.

The deaths of two of the company’s founders, Thomas in 1969 and his brother Leo less than a year later, closed one chapter in the Tobin story but opened another with Leo J, Desmond (Des) and Geoffrey Tobin becoming members of the board.

Tobin Brothers Funerals acquired the much respected Padbury Funerals in 1977 which included its locations at 89 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood (now closed) and 816 Doncaster Road, Doncaster (where Tobin Brothers Funerals remains today).

The company now comprising sixty staff, was conducting approximately three thousand funerals annually and had modern branches operating in seven locations across Melbourne.

Tobin Brothers Funerals celebrates 50 years of service.

Tobin Brothers has always been recognised as one of the industry’s most prolific innovators; A proud demonstration of that reputation is when the company launched its Fixed Price Funeral Plan in 1984. The creation of the Funeral Plan (under the management of economics graduate Gavan Tobin) came about because of the increasing number of people who were keen to put in place plans for their eventual funerals.

The most attractive aspect of the Fixed Price Funeral Plan is that the price is fixed forever so that even in the event of the purchaser living another ten or twenty years, the cost of the funeral, regardless of inflation, would remain unchanged from the day the contract was signed. A much better alternative to Funeral Insurances.

The appeal of the Fixed Price Funeral Plan quickly became evident. Other companies, critical at first, soon followed suit by introducing similar prepaid schemes; in 1993 all such funeral plans were protected under law by the passing of the Pre-Paid Monies Act in Victoria, this means that even in the event of a funeral company’s closure, the contract will be honoured.

Read More

In 1986, Tobin Brothers moved from its previous Ringwood premises to 331 Maroondah Highway. An existing church at the bottom of the block was renovated and turned into a custom Funeral Centre.

December 1986 saw the opening of Tobin Brothers new funeral facility which was reported as ‘the most modern Funeral Centre in Australia’. It also became the new home to the education division with a Funeral Services area, an Education Centre and a Seminar Room.

“Tobin Brothers are experts in dealing with death and bereavement and in many ways have taken the lead in educating the community in this area. They will soon be moving from their current premises in Ringwood to a brand new complex further along Maroondah Highway”

“The new complex will incorporate all the educational services that Tobins have developed, including a resources centre where community groups can meet. Books, for children and adults, audio tapes, videos and help and guidance from professional bereavement counsellors are available”. – excerpt from The Mail Newspaper, Wednesday November 19, 1986.

One of the most significant industry developments in the late eighties, built upon during the nineties and beyond, was the popularity of the Chapel Funeral.

This concept enabled the entire service to take place in the funeral chapel itself, negating the need for mourners to travel to a cemetery or crematorium for a service of committal. Building upon this trend, Des Tobin spent time in the United States studying what were being promoted as ‘life-centred’ services.

By contrast to a religious church service where the emphasis by the clergy is upon the liturgy, the life-centred service, usually led by a civil celebrant, becomes exactly that – a celebration of the deceased’s life. It is also a service in which a religious component can be included if that is the family’s wish. These were the early sparks of Tobin Brothers ‘Celebrating Lives’ ethos.

Historically, the funeral industry had been the sacrosanct domain of men but all that changed in 1990 with the launch of Frances Tobin & Associates. Tobin Brothers Funerals became the first company in Melbourne to offer funeral services provided exclusively by women. Now known as Frances Tobin Funerals by Women, it is led by a third generation member of the Tobin family, Frances Tobin:

“Women are traditionally recognised for their ability to nurture, support and care for others and I believe it’s these qualities together with developing empathy through listening and open-ended communication that are the natural strengths of women.” – Frances Tobin