George Pace
George Pace is a Maltese entrepreneur in Victoria, Australia.
Early life and migration
The fourth child of Joseph Pace and Frances Psaila, George Pace was born in Ħamrun, Malta in 1932. His mother died in childbirth when he was just 20 months, so he spent several years living with his aunt until, at the age of nine, when he was admitted to St Joseph’s Institute, a home for boys. By seventeen, he qualified as a mechanical engineer and his first job involved mechanical maintenance of college equipment and vehicles.
George migrated to Australia on the Fairsea in 1954. In 1955 he married Rosie Micallef, whom he had met only days prior to his departure from Malta. Rosie migrated to Australia with her family a few months after George and when George heard of their departure, through his friend Joe Micallef,he made sure he was there to welcome them at Port Melbourne. They eventually married and settled in Melbourne where George worked with the Footscray Bus Depot as a senior motor mechanic and leading hand for over 25 years.
Entrepreneurship
George is the epitome of a self-made man, a jack-of-all trades who achieved success through hard work and dedication. He taught himself many skills which he often used to take on extra work to earn extra income for his family. In addition to working with the Bus Depot, he constructed wrought iron balustrades and gates in his garage at home, initially for himself but quickly turning this into a prosperous side enterprise. He began to involve himself in building, beginning with his own homes and then going on to become a licensed Master Builder. In addition to building his own homes he built a holiday house in St Leonards, assisted his son Michael, and supervised the construction of seven units.
However, it was another sideline which really established him in business. During the sixties, he started selling venetian blinds, earning commission only, in the newly expanding housing subdivisions of the western suburbs. This he did while still working at the Bus Depot. From this extra income he started investing in and developing property. By 1983 he set up his own showroom, Pace Interiors in St Albans, and quickly expanded to the shop next door. He set up the manufacturing of curtains in his own small factory and then established a larger factory in Tullamarine. The business was taken over by his son Michael Pace in 1995 and still exists today with a much larger showroom in Hawthorn. George, whilst retired from day to day business, continued to work in property management.
Musical contribution
George also enjoys a talent in music. When Fr Claude Borg was transferred to Sydney, George took over the running of the St Gaetan Choir for five years where his daughter Margaret Pace was the organist. His son David Pace is one of the established members of the Painters and Dockers rock band. George’s father, Joseph Pace, composed the music for the Malta Labour Party Hymn which is still played today. In recognition of his musical contribution to Malta, the street where Joseph lived in Ħamrun was renamed after him Triq Guże Pace Mużiċist.
George and Rosie have four children and six grandchildren.
Source
- Joan Hall: George and Rosie, 2011