Last year, Delta Air Conditioning & Heating took out the 2022 Club Daikin Award. It was a crowning achievement that followed six straight years of winning Super Dealer since Paul Oxford took over the business in 2016.

The current director of Canberra’s oldest air conditioning company, Paul is breathing fresh air into a business that has been in his family since 1977, five years after the store opened in 1972.

It was a motto that his parents ingrained for almost 40 years, long before Paul displayed it in so many words on the masthead: “A job done right, first time, every time.”

“And on time,” he adds with a smile.

“I wanted to continue the quality from Mum and Dad’s teachings.”

“I was always taught that if we look after our customers and treat them right, we don’t really need to worry about the rest of it.”

Before the opening of Telstra Tower or the Belconnen Mall. Before the population of Canberra reached 250,000. Before the Global Financial Crisis, Covid-19, and the erasure of paper filing systems, Paul’s father, David Oxford, bought one quarter of the air conditioning store at Number 7, Fyshwick Plaza.

“That quarter became a half, and soon after we had the whole lot,” said the elder Oxford.

“Way back in the ‘70s, Fyshwick was totally dead. You would pick up the phone just to see if it’s still working. We were relying on foot traffic, of course, but there wasn’t any.”

With three young children to take care of, David and wife Christine chose to pack up shop and move around the block to an empty shell on Kembla Street, where they would create their first showroom.

This became the backdrop of Paul’s first memories of the business, while visiting the workshop as a child.

David, meanwhile, found the bane of his working day in the enormous trucks that would park in front of their street-facing position, concealing the store completely from its confused customers.

“So, we moved again to where we are today.”

Paul’s parents murmured their approval as they entered the recently renovated Tennant Street locale. “I hardly recognise the place,” said Christine, softly.

Paul gestured around the open-plan office, where sunlight now streams through the large contemporary windows.

“Before this, it was all closed up. You couldn’t see the team. You’d just ring a bell and wait for someone to come to you.

“The renovations aren’t finished, but we’re certainly giving the image that we want: we’re here, we’re open, and ready to chat about what our customers need.”

“Paul first started working with me on his school holidays,” said David.

“I would help them in the roofs, running duct,” said Paul. “This business has always been a big part of me.”

“Paul’s the youngest,” said David. “All the kids have worked in the business at some stage, and he stayed on.

“He said to my sister one day that he always wanted to come and work with Dad,” he smiled.

“A few years ago, we had reached the point where Mum and Dad were getting older, definitely should be enjoying life and the product of all the blood, sweat and tears they’ve poured into the business,” said Paul.

“He’s done a marvellous job. I do think he’s a better leader than me,” David laughed. “I always wanted to do everything myself. I could never get my hands off the tools.”

While their leadership styles may differ, one thing that has remained constant through two generations of directors is their customers’ family names.

“It’s unbelievable,” said David. “It’s one part of this business that I never ever expected. I would do a job for a mum and dad back in the day, when they had little kids running around. Then those kids grow up and move out.”

“And now I’m doing installations for their kids,” said Paul. “There are customers who Dad installed an aircon for and years later, I’m back there taking it out and upgrading it. It’s rewarding to know that after 50 years in the industry, our family business continues to be trusted by local families.”

“It’s all to do with keeping in touch,” said David. “Because the minute they want something else done, they just pick up the phone and call you.”

“The really simple things, like good communication, quality of product, quality of installation. Just quality,” agreed Paul.

“If you look after your customers, they’ll come back time and time again.”

With interstate competition on the rise, the oldest air conditioning company in Canberra has maintained course thus far by offering what their contenders cannot: Decades of specialising in Canberra’s fickle temperatures, all year round.

“Canberrans value that, because you don’t want to spend a heap of money on something that’s only 80 per cent there,” Paul said.

“You want your home climate to be perfect, otherwise you’re not resting properly after a long day.”

With quality that has weathered the test of time, both Paul and David agree that Delta Air Conditioning & Heating will be around for 50 years more.

To see how Paul and his expert team can help you, visit deltaairconditioning.com.au or call the showroom on 6280 4211.