JAC GROUP Subdivisions and Land Sales | Property

JAC GROUP Subdivisions and Land Sales

Phone: +61 3 6332 4100

Address: Customs House 89 Esplanade 7250 Launcestown, TAS, Australia

Website: https://www.jacgroup.com.au

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24.01.2022 ~ Josef I was born in 1930 in the town Žár (pronounced Jar) in Czechoslovakia. During World War II the Nazis occupied Czechoslovakia, including my hometown.... After the war ended in 1945, the Russians moved and replaced the Germans and introduced communism. I was very unhappy with the Nazi occupation, but it was as bad under the Russians. I decided that I could not live under communism. Along with two of my friends, we made the decision to escape. Not even my family knew of my plan. If they knew of such things, they would have been severely punished. Either by jail or sent to the remote mines for hard labour. (See family photo in top of comments) The border between my country and Austria was guarded by minefields and Russian soldiers with dogs. To make our escape, we had to wait until it was a bright moonlight night as it was not safe to use a torch. Two of my friends were captured. One was shot and injured. I managed to board a train that was headed for Vienna but we still had to pass through Russian occupied Austria. On the train, the conductor was walking through the carriage checking tickets. I was terrified that he would ask me something and because I only spoke Czech, he would realise I was escaping and would report me to the Russian soldiers and I would be arrested or possibly shot. I quickly decided to leave my ticket in my top pocket and pretended to be asleep. I was hoping he would punch the ticket and keep moving but he prods me and wakes me. Scared at what might happen if I am discovered, I pretended I was deaf and dumb and moan and dribble and wave my hands around. He looked quite shocked, so he punched my ticket and kept going. I believe this quick thinking saved my life. I arrived in Vienna safely. It teaches me to always have a backup plan, in life and in business. I spent 4 days in Vienna. Then I had to make the difficult and dangerous journey, through Russian occupied Austria to Salzburg where I spent 5 months, 10 days of which was in a refugee camp. After giving me political refugee papers, I was asked to leave. To find food I had to pick fruit or go to the nuns for a plate of soup. Now that I was safe in US occupied Salzburg, I had to choose between Canada, USA, New Zealand and Australia. Australia sounded like it had a bright future and as I feared another war, it was a long way from conflict and communism. So, at age 20, I came here to beautiful Tasmania. I managed to get a job in Railton at the Goliath Cement factory, working with asbestos. My accommodation was a 4x3 metre shed with another immigrant. My bed was a farm gate with hessian bags stuffed with straw. We later found out the dangers of working with asbestos, I was very happy to have work. Sadly, my friend I shared the shed with died of mesothelioma many years later. I was very lucky that I did not suffer the same fate. (See photo of shed in top of comments) I wanted to go back to be a butcher and a ham, bacon and smallgoods maker like I was in Czechoslovakia. To save money I also worked another job at the Heinz factory. I was working seven days a week. I left the asbestos factory and finally got a job with a Dutch butcher in Penguin. It was in early 1953, I had saved 220 and opened Prague Meats. Three months later, it failed because of lack of capital, limited English and no wife to look after me. I was very unhappy, but I made sure all my creditors were paid. The owner of the Dutch butcher shop asked me to come back and work for him again. It wasn’t long before he made me the production manager. It was here, in 1953, I met my beautiful Alida, a Dutch girl. However, I didn’t speak Dutch and she didn’t speak Czech, but we fell in love and learned English together. We married in 1954. I still had the desire to have my own business so three years later (1957), by which time the butcher shop and ham, bacon and smallgoods factory had grown to 40 employees, I left and opened my own butcher shop ‘Continental Meats’ in Burnie. I had big plans, so I changed the name to Blue Ribbon Meat Products. It was a good name as it meant success and achievement. We soon turned over $160,000 per year and I had five employees. By 1972, I had four butcher shops and distribution centres in Launceston and Hobart. It was then that I built a smallgoods, ham and bacon factory in Camdale and it employed over 80 people. The Tasmanian Premier at the time, Eric Reece opened it. In 1973 I bought a piggery with a capacity for 3500 pigs. Over time I grew this to 9000 pigs. This was a big year for me as I also acquired Benders Smallgoods in Launceston and Universal Smallgoods in Hobart. In 1979 I bought Killafaddy Abattoir in Launceston and we started to export Tasmanian beef, mutton and lamb, to many countries. At this time our annual turnover was over 50 million dollars. In 1983 we bought Huttons Smallgoods at St Leonards. The business kept growing and Alida and I decided to move to Launceston and we bought a house in Dilston. We entertained thousands of people there over the years. We served only the best Tasmanian food and wine. In 1992, despite many challenges facing the meat industry, Blue Ribbon was still a successful company, employing 540 people and a turnover of 75 million dollars annually. The same year I was named the Tasmanian Executive of the year. A huge honour for me. 1993 was significant as it was the year we listed Blue Ribbon on the Australian Stock Exchange and won many awards for our exporting of premium quality meats including winning the prestigious national Australian Austrade Agricultural Award for our 1993 achievements. The Blue Ribbon float allowed me to form the JAC Group (Josef and Alida Chromy). Without the support of my wife, I would not be where I am today. In 1994 I saw the Tasmanian wine industry as very similar to the meat industry in that it was undergoing rationalisation where many participants were undercapitalised and unable to achieve the economies of scale necessary to take full advantage of wine making with Tasmania’s premium cool climate. I had 37 years’ experience in creating scale, quality, yield and new markets and I did not want to waste it. It was decided that the JAC Group would invest in the Tasmanian wine industry. We bought 3 established but struggling wineries. Heemskerk (Janz), Rochecombe and Buchanan vineyards. In 1997 I was honoured to receive the Medal of Order of Australia Medal for services to the meat industry. My goal was to design and build my own vineyard and winery from the ground up. In early 1998, I sold Heemskerk Wine Group to Pipers Brook and not long after this, they listed on the stock exchange. Heemskerk still remains the home of the multi award winning Jansz sparkling wine and is now owned by the Yalumba Group. In the same year I built a brand-new state of the art vineyard at Kayena. The vineyard had been established under advice from one of Australia’s foremost viticulturists, Dr Richard Smart, who recommended the SCOTT HENRY system of trellising, which had been untried in Tasmania. We sold 9,000 cases in our first year of production. It was a state-of-the-art winery and became the winner of many trophies, medals and awards. Our production soon rivalled that of the two biggest wineries in Tasmania. The success of Tamar Ridge in the marketplace did not go unnoticed by the media and was captured by Chris Shanahan (The Canberra Times) who described the Tamar Ridge brand as . surely one of the most stunning, complete and instant wine-brand creations in the history of Australia’s wine industry. This I am very proud of and I always endeavour to employ local people. This is very important to me. I was not a wine connoisseur before this, but I quickly grew to love the distinctive quality of cool climate wines made from Tasmanian fruit. Sparkling, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris, all shine in Tasmania when given the right care and attention. My own cellar is 95% Tasmanian wines including many other local brands. My favourite depends on my mood, the people I’m sharing it with, and the accompanying food. In 1998, the JAC Group purchased Customs House in Launceston, of which the top floor is now our office. I do love old buildings, but they must have commercial as well as heritage value to be considered for purchase. I sold Tamar Ridge Winery in 2003 and bought Glenwood Vineyard consisting of 61 hectares of vines in Relbia which is now Josef Chromy Vineyard, Winery and Restaurant/Cellar Door. Since opening, we have won over 200 medals and 17 trophies for our wines. In 2000. I had one of my proudest moments, which was to have lunch with her majesty The Queen. I was privileged to sit opposite her and join with eight other Tasmanian notaries including, the then Premier, Jim Bacon and Australian cricket captain, Ricky Ponting. In August of 2005 I suffered a stroke and it severely affected my speech, spelling and handwriting. My determination kicked in and with intensive therapy and practice, I have recovered substantially. In 2008, after much negotiating with the state government, we acquired the old Launceston Hospital building. A six-level building with views over Launceston and the Tamar River. It was in a very bad state of disrepair, but I was determined to make it a jewel in Launceston’s crown. It now has a 99-room hotel, 14 apartments, medical centre, offices and retail shops. We won a national award from the Property Council for Best Mixed-Use Development which made me so proud as we were up against the best developments in the country. It was refurbished during the global financial crisis and our Group employed around 200 people which pleased me. My amazing wife Alida suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease which took her from me in May 2010, after 55 years of marriage. It was a huge loss and Alida was my biggest supporter and the love of my life. Our only child, our daughter Margaret passed away from cancer a few years ago. In 2016 I saw another opportunity to resurrect another Launceston icon that was closed for 8 years, the Penny Royal complex. This has been transformed into a unique Tasmanian attraction showcasing Tasmania’s 1820 history and offering restaurants and an ice creamery for all the family to enjoy. The JAC Group has diversified to now include wine production, tourism and property development at Mt. Pleasant, Hawley, Shearwater, Latrobe and Kingston. Over 67 years ago I came here with nothing but hope and ambition. Tasmanians welcomed me and with their help, I have been rewarded for the challenges and risks I have taken in both the meat and wine industries and now property developments. Loyalty is a quality I value highly, and this definitely affects my investment decisions. I am proud to say that I have hopefully repaid the faith that Tasmania and its people put in me by continually reinvesting in Tasmania. At 87 years of age, I should be easing up. However, my mind is always full of ideas and I will keep on contributing. I enjoy both working and taking time for holidays, but my work is always foremost in my mind. I would not be able to do this today without the support of my chairman, directors and my loyal staff and I am pleased that I was able to turn my childhood dreams into a reality. Please feel free to share and give the page a like. Thanks. #harmonyday #humansoflaunceston

24.01.2022 Grand Mews coming along nicely!

21.01.2022 https://www.mortgagebusiness.com.au//15081-hobart-house-pr

21.01.2022 Check out Today's Domain featuring a DTL designed home as House of the week. https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-kings+mead

19.01.2022 What a beautiful day at Spring farm kingston. https://www.springfarmestate.com.au/

18.01.2022 https://www.facebook.com/111754483830322/posts/206700491002387/

17.01.2022 Quality blocks, Ideal lifestyle - Stage 1 - Only 1 Block Left Perfectly located within a short stroll to the Shearwater Shopping Center and Supermarket, Sea Change Estate is a great place to build your family home. Local beaches nearby and easy building blocks makes the Sea Change Estate the perfect choice. Inquire now! https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-tas

14.01.2022 Spring farm and white water park..

12.01.2022 Stage 10 spring farm released today.. Jump on www.springfarmestate.com.au and check it out

10.01.2022 https://mbatas.org.au/heres-what-you-need-to-know-on-the-h/

10.01.2022 Always a great view

10.01.2022 Beautiful day at Hawley Beach Estate stage 3

10.01.2022 Spring Farm Estate and White Water Park in Kingston used modular walls for our acoustic fence that runs along Channel highway.

09.01.2022 https://www.realestate.com.au//five-reasons-why-firsthom/

06.01.2022 FOR SALE!! 22 Henry Reed Court, Kings Meadows Offers Over $649,000... BRAND NEW STUNNING 4 BEDROOM HOME This stunning architectural designed home located in the very popular Mount Pleasant Estate offers a lifestyle second to none for the astute buyer looking for quality family living. Large master bedroom with w/in robe & fully tiled Ensuite. Sunken lounge room with vaulted ceilings. Chefs kitchen with stone benchtops - Bosch appliances gas cooktop. Butlers pantry with loads of storage. Brush box timber floors Air-conditioning Gas Log Fire. Remote double garage - Fully landscaped Heaps of storage. Large Alfresco Deck with mountain views Sundrenched courtyard. If you want the very best without compromise on design and quality, then put 22 Henry Reed Court, Kings Meadows on your must inspect list. INSPECT: Saturday 10am 11am or By Appointment. Contact Peter King 0400 440 444

06.01.2022 Recent images of our developments.

05.01.2022 With the vision of offering a quality residential estate where people can build their homes within a friendly neighbourhood, Tasmanian icon and developer Josef ...Chromy has set the standard which all residential estates are measured by. Mersey Fields Estate has become the preferred place for buyers to build that long awaited dream home. Where the quality of lifestyle is just as important as the quality of the home. With affordable blocks and a variety of block sizes, this certainly will make a strong point of difference for those people wanting to make Mersey Fields Estate home. Inquire now! https://merseyfieldsestate.com.au/

04.01.2022 Low tide at Hawley Beach this afternoon and what a view!

02.01.2022 Are you looking for a block? Check out our Hawley Beach Estate. An outstanding coastal location having the most beautiful beaches on North West Coast and just f...ew minutes away from Devonport Airport and Spirit of Tasmania! What are you wating for? Inquire now at https://hawleybeachestate.com.au/

01.01.2022 Street trees were planted today in the Grand Mews. Great work from all contractors

01.01.2022 CCTV Solutions for your Home Making the right decision on home security can be both difficult and overwhelming; especially if you are uncertain about your secur...ity needs. Providing solutions for both residential and commercial properties - DRC Security offers HD CCTV and alarm systems at the most competitive price in Tasmania. Contact us now for your free initial consultation & assessment. # 0428 521 523

01.01.2022 Thanks DRC security for providing these cameras on our Spring Farm Estate. These cameras are there to stop illegal dumping of rubbish and keeping people honest. Go to their facefook page and check out what they have to offer.