At age 76, Jim Carroll has lived a life defined by constancy — one job, one profession, one car and one wife.
Now, after 60 years in the picture-framing trade, Mr Carroll has closed the doors on what is believed to be Queensland’s longest-running picture framing business owned by a single individual.
Mr Carroll opened Carroll’s Picture Framing in 1984 at a small shop on the corner of Russell and Bloomfield streets, after completing his apprenticeship at Manson Framers in Wynnum.
His wife, Del, worked alongside him throughout the journey as his business partner.
The following year, the couple relocated to larger premises at 153 Bloomfield Street, renting two former army barracks next door to the current Centrelink office.
Mr Carroll remained there until 2004, before moving the business to Ross Court, Cleveland, where it operated until its recent closure.
He said the success of the business was closely tied to the growth of Cleveland itself.
“When I started, I had $200 in the bank and gave my landlord $40 a week rent in the hand,” he said.
“I decided to go for it and while I was putting up the signs, people were handing me work.
“Cleveland was dying for a picture framer.”
Mr Carroll said his career choice dated back to leaving school, when work was plentiful.
“I started framing when I left school,” he said.
“Jobs weren’t hard to get and three came up – a sheet metal worker, plumber and framer, all within 100 yards of each other.
“I took on framing because I like working with wood.
“I remember starting work on April Fool’s Day in 1966 and hoped it wasn’t an omen.
“There is more to it than four pieces of timber, a bit of glass and a picture.
“You have to do it correctly so that it lasts.”
Over six decades, Mr Carroll framed countless personal and historical items from his Cleveland workshop.
“There have been certificates, football jerseys, Olympic Games outfits, war medals, boxing belts, stretched paintings on canvas and the Olympic torch,” he said.
“Things come in waves.
“There were the tapestries and embroideries and the jigsaw puzzles and the oil paintings on canvas.
“And there have been a lot of golf balls.
“You would be amazed how many people get a hole in one.”
He said the business served multiple generations of families and attracted work from far beyond the Redlands.
“If people like you, they will keep coming back,” he said.
“People are loyal.
“I started with the grandparents and now I am framing for the grandchildren.”
Mr Carroll said the workload was demanding, with long days a regular feature of his working life.
He often worked from 7am to 10pm, six days a week, and said the time had finally come to slow down.
“I’ve sold the building and the doors closed on January 31,” he said.
“We marked the day by sheeting up the windows with brown paper and disassembling the machinery.
“We still have some people needing to pick up their work, and then it’s time to do nothing.”
Outside the workshop, Mr Carroll’s passion has always been classic cars.
His work and delivery vehicle was a red Morris Minor, one of four classic cars he now hopes to enjoy more often.
“I belong to two classic car clubs and can now go on more outings,” he said.
“I also want to do a bit of travelling and cruising.
