After 40 years, he has sold that building and plans to operate from home, in Goomalibee.
“It’s been great here in the building,” Marty said.
“It’s lovely. As you can see, it’s an old building, but it’s got a lot of character, and I’ve really enjoyed my time here.
“And the people that I’ve met here, and the work that I’ve done over a lot of years.”
In the past 40 years, Marty has employed three apprentices and said it was fulfilling to see them takes the skills he taught and forge their own careers in the industry.
“One of those is Matty Davis, who has Benalla Signs,” he said.
“People say ‘you get an apprentice, they do their time, then they go out and become your opposition’.
“But that’s the way it’s got to be. I started out as an apprentice. It’s how you learn.
“And I get on really well with Matty, we’re great mates.”
Marty said he had seen significant changes to the industry in his time.
“When I first moved here, everything was handwritten,” he said.
“I was taught the old-school way in my apprenticeship days in Melbourne.
“But the sign trade has changed dramatically, particularly through the introduction of computers and printers.”
Marty said you needed a steady hand to do traditional signwriting, joking that his was not as steady as it once was.
“I still love the hand signwriting, and still get requests for it, although I don’t do much of it now,” he said.
Marty said he didn’t want anyone who saw the building had changed hands to think Burke Signs was no longer around.
“I’ll be working from home in Goomalibee,” he said.
You can contact Marty at Burke Signs on 0408 147 724 or at martyburkesigns@gmail.com
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