Our History

The original firm of F.C. Bryant was established in 1927 by Frederick Charles Bryant (1902-1968) at Station House in Tramway Arcade, Rockdale, and has always remained in Rockdale. Fred ran the firm as a sole practitioner facing the difficult years of the Depression from 1929 to 1933 not long after he commenced practice.

Fred also undertook the strain of working long hours in the critical war years 1939 to 1945 with its shortage of manpower and strict rationing.  In the mid 1940’s Fred was joined by Perce Crossky who had returned from war service.  In the late 1940’s Fred’s son John Bryant finished his university degrees and took articles in the firm.  To Fred’s great relief John qualified in law and joined as a partner in 1951 and was therefore able to share in the workload of private practice.  The firm became FC Bryant & Co and remained in this form until 1999.

Unfortunately, Fred’s health began declining in the late 1950’s and by 1960 he had effectively retired, remaining as a consultant and working mainly from home until his death in 1968 aged 66.

The firm with John as senior partner was able to participate in the home unit building boom of the 1950’s and 1960’s particularly in the St George area as suburbs opened up and the Australian economy enjoyed stability and relative prosperity.  With John as senior partner the firm added Solicitors Greg Conynghame and Jim Anderson who both remained up to the late 1960’s.

David Jarrett joined the firm with John in 1961 and remained a partner until 1987.  David built up a significant Family Law practice which was a useful addition to F.C. Bryant & Co’s areas of work.

In the late 1970’s Pat Stemp (later Pat Fearnley) qualified as a solicitor and became a partner during the 1980’s.  John’s son (and Fred’s grandson) Gordon was qualified as a solicitor in 1980 and also became a partner from the early 1980’s.

Over this period the firm enjoyed the long and valued service of a number of employees in particular Deidre Shumack who began as Fred’s secretary in the late 1940’s and remained with the firm until 1985 establishing a very solid and well-respected probate practice within the firm.  Betty Lane worked chiefly as David Jarrett’s secretary and was a fixture in the firm for some 30 years establishing a very strong rapport with many clients.  Judy Bryant, John’s sister-in-law, was called in to help part-time in early 1968 as a receptionist and eventually graduated to taking care of the firm’s books and accounts which she did tirelessly until her retirement due to ill health early in 2022 then aged 86.

On 1 July 1999, F.C. Bryant & Co became F.C. Bryant Thomas & Co when the former principals, John Bryant (Fred’s son), Gordon Bryant (Fred’s grandson) and Pat Stemp, were joined by Ken Thomas. Ken had been practicing in Peakhurst since the early 1980’s and was well positioned close to the commercial centre of Hurstville. He operated a varied general practice and brought a solid clientele to the newly merged firm in 1999. 

John Bryant, who had been a partner in the original firm for more than 50 years and remained as a consultant to the partnership, retired in 2010. Pat Stemp retired in 2008 having built up a specialised and significant probate and estates practice which continued the work of Deidre Shumack.

In around 2019 the firm acquired a further set of clients following the retirement of Stephen Sharpe and the closure of his firm LJ Sharpe & Co who had been practicing in offices next door to our firm for many years.

In late 2023, the firm again became known as F.C. Bryant Solicitors. As of 2024, Ken Thomas has retired and Gordon Bryant remains in the firm alongside Solicitor James Williams.

Trudy Eggins worked in the firm as a legal secretary from the late 1970’s through to 2024 when she retired. She became a specialist in probate and estate work continuing the long tradition of the firm in this area. 

For over 95 years we have provided the highest quality legal services to our clients, many of whom are the third and fourth generations of our firm’s original clients, and are proud to continue that fine tradition into the 21st century.

Our slideshow captures some images from the firm’s history.