History & Heritage
A Legacy Nearly 100 Years in the Making
The Paterson family’s plumbing story stretches back four generations,
beginning with our great grandfather Frank Albert Paterson.
In 1927, while laying in the bath at home and frustrated by how long it took to fill with hot water, Frank imagined a better way. That spark of inspiration became the Paterson Bath Heater — one of Australia’s first gas continuous-flow hot water systems.
He soon set to work in his workshop on Glen Osmond Road, where he operated under the business name Paterson Bros. There, the idea became reality: Frank built the first units by hand, pioneering an innovation that delivered hot water instantly for bathing at a time when most homes relied on slow, wood-fired chip heaters. His invention foreshadowed the tankless systems that are common today.
By 1942, Frank’s skills and professionalism were formally recognised when he was issued Registered Master Plumber License No.127 by the South Australian Engineering & Water Supply Department. That license booklet, still preserved by the family, confirms Frank as one of the very first plumbers to be formally registered in the state — proof of both his standing and his contribution to South Australia’s plumbing history.
Passing Down the Trade
Frank’s son, John Paterson, carried on the trade, working his entire life as a plumber before becoming a plumbing inspector in his later career. His role was to uphold the very standards of safety and workmanship that the Paterson name had come to represent.
John’s son, Darren Paterson, continued the legacy by founding DJs Plumbing Service, a business he still operates today. Darren kept the Paterson name alive in South Australia’s plumbing industry and introduced his son Jayden to the trade, instilling in him the same values passed down since Frank’s time.
Jayden’s Journey
For Jayden Paterson, plumbing was never just a trade — it was a birthright. Starting as a school-based apprentice at 14, he was immersed in the Paterson way from the very beginning: integrity, craftsmanship, and excellence without compromise. By the time most of his peers were still finding their feet, Jayden was already on the tools, running jobs, and laying the foundation for the company he always knew he would create.
Jayden spent years in the trenches with his father at DJs Plumbing Service, gaining a depth of knowledge that can’t be taught in classrooms. But he didn’t stop there. Over the past decade, he has been obsessed with building expertise across every service now offered by Paterson Trades Group. From plumbing, gas, and drainage to air conditioning and bushfire defence systems, Jayden has put in the hours, developed the skills, and gained accreditations and trade recognitions that back his authority. He also dedicated five years to the CFS, giving him rare, hands-on insight into bushfire behaviour and defence strategies that now set Paterson Trades Group apart.
Along the way, Jayden carefully built alliances with elite tradespeople across South Australia — teaming up with only those who matched his high standards. This includes trusted builders who handle the construction side of renovations while Jayden and his team deliver the plumbing expertise, and hand-picked electricians who ensure the group’s electrical services meet the same premium standards.
These partnerships, combined with Jayden’s relentless drive and leadership, have made him the go-to authority in Adelaide for premium, multi-trade solutions.
When it comes to plumbing, gas, air conditioning, bushfire defence, renovations, or electrical, Jayden is at the centre of it all — the one who’s lived it, earned it, and built a business that stands head and shoulders above the competition.
Establishing Paterson Plumbing
In June 2023, Jayden formally launched Paterson Plumbing Pty Ltd, bringing four generations of family expertise into a modern business. Within a short time, the company built a strong reputation across Adelaide for fixed-price quotes, lifetime labour warranties, on-time guarantees, and premium customer service.
Becoming Paterson Trades Group
With demand quickly expanding beyond plumbing, Jayden took the next major step in April 2025, when Paterson Plumbing officially converted to Paterson Trades Group Pty Ltd. This new structure united specialists in Plumbing, Air Conditioning, Electrical, Renovations, and Bushfire Defence, allowing clients to deal with one trusted brand across multiple trades.
Today & Beyond
Nearly a century after Frank Albert Paterson lay in his bath and imagined a better way to heat water, then built it in his Glen Osmond Road workshop under Paterson Bros, the Paterson name still stands for craftsmanship, innovation, and trust.
From Frank’s ingenuity to John’s inspector’s role, from Darren’s small business to Jayden’s multi-trade vision, the Paterson legacy has endured. With every job we complete, we honour the generations before us while investing in the future — combining traditional values with modern technology to serve Adelaide homeowners for generations to come.
Timeline of the Paterson Legacy
- 1927 — Frank Albert Paterson, laying in the bath at home, conceives the idea for the Paterson Bath Heater. He later builds it in his Paterson Bros workshop on Glen Osmond Road, creating one of Australia’s first gas continuous-flow hot water systems.
- 1942–43 — Frank is formally registered as Master Plumber No.127 by the South Australian Engineering & Water Supply Department.
- Mid 20th Century — John Paterson works his entire career as a plumber before becoming a plumbing inspector.
- 2000s–Present — Darren Paterson establishes and operates DJs Plumbing Service, continuing the family tradition.
- 2010s — Jayden Paterson begins plumbing as a school-based apprentice at 14, working under Darren. He later builds expertise in plumbing, gas, air conditioning, and bushfire defence systems, and serves five years with the CFS.
- June 2023 — Paterson Plumbing Solutions Pty Ltd is launched by Jayden Paterson.
- April 2025 — The business evolves into Paterson Trades Group Pty Ltd, expanding into a premium multi-trade company.
- Today — Paterson Trades Group continues to combine heritage, innovation, and premium service to set a new standard for trades in Adelaide.
