Fifty years of working IT.
Peat's opened in 1976 selling typewriters and office machines. The machines kept changing — copiers, computers, networks, the cloud — and we kept learning them, so the district never had to. Half a century later it's still a local, family-run shop where the directors answer their own phones.
The machines changed. The counter didn't.
Peat's Office Equipment was started in Echuca in May 1976 by Ken Peat — for the simple reason that there was no office-equipment supplier in the district at all. Ken began by selling desktop calculators, and ran the business himself for the next thirty years, growing it on two rules he never bent: “service what we sell” and “people matter most.”
The range grew with the district — photocopiers and the first service contracts, then the area's first business computers, point-of-sale systems and networks. In 2006, after three decades, Ken sold Peat's to four of his long-serving staff— among them today's directors, Rod Pearl and Brenton Wagner— who carry his two rules forward to this day. Soon after, Peat's joined the Office National independent dealer group: national buying power, local manners.
The machines kept changing — managed IT, the cloud, Microsoft 365, cyber security, and an in-house software team building real platforms for transport yards, clubs and agribusinesses. The shop moved up the road to 98 Annesley Street. But the deal hasn't changed since 1976: buy local, employ local, service within 200 kilometres of Echuca, answer the phone, and turn up. Fifty years on, the directors still do.
Fifty years in seven chapters.
Ken Peat opens Peat's Office Equipment in Echuca in May — there was no office-equipment supplier locally — starting out selling desktop calculators.
The range grows with the district: photocopiers and service contracts, then the area's first business PCs, point-of-sale and networks — always 'service what we sell'.
After 30 years, Ken sells the business to four long-serving staff — including today's directors Rod Pearl and Brenton Wagner — who carry on his two rules: service what we sell, and people matter most.
Peat's joins the Office National independent dealer group — the buying power of a national, the manners of a local.
The managed-IT era: remote monitoring, one-click remote support, and the help desk goes professional.
An in-house software team and a full Managed Service Provider offering — cloud, Microsoft 365, cyber security and custom platforms for district businesses.
Fifty years on. New premises at 98 Annesley Street, the same family-run shop — and the directors still answer their own phones.
The two names on the agreement.
Rod and Brenton run the place the way it's always been run — personally. You'll find them behind the counter, not behind a switchboard.
Twelve people. No phone tree.
Office NationalIndependent dealer group member since 2009
KyoceraDocument-solutions service specialists
Konica MinoltaAuthorised dealer & service
Microsoft PartnerMicrosoft 365 & Azure management
BitdefenderManaged endpoint security partner
ACSC Essential EightAssessments & uplift to ML1–ML2
SMB1001Certification pathway for SMEs
Planet ArkCartridge & e-waste recycling point
Healthy businesses build healthy communities.
Every year Peat's sponsors more than fifty local schools, clubs, churches and community groups across Echuca–Moama and the district. It's not a marketing line — it's the deal we made with the place that's kept a local shop alive for fifty years.
Come say g'day at 98 Annesley Street.
Open Mon–Fri 8:30–5:30 and Saturday mornings 9–12. Or ring (03) 5482 3009 — a person answers.