Bannister & Son
Caleb borrowed a 4WD to reach a customer stranded in the sand dunes — and that's not the only rescue story in these reviews.
Named staff members Roger, Matt, and Caleb appear repeatedly with specific praise attached to each, which signals the workmanship is personal rather than outsourced. A small number of customers — three in the sample — mention surprise at the price for key cutting, specifically that costs weren't communicated before the work was done; this is worth keeping in mind, so ask for a quote upfront, particularly for standard blank key cutting where cheaper alternatives exist locally. The business suits travellers passing through who face a car key emergency, residents needing residential lockwork or leather repairs, and anyone chasing a specialist key or remote that the bigger chains couldn't source.
Their work
What it's like working with them
Based on a sample of Google reviews (76 total)
“Best quality shoe and belt repairs in the country”
What they help with
Based on what their customers hired them for
How they stack up
Context from 232 locksmiths in Mount Gambier
Credentials & background
Sourced from 4 public records so you don't have to look them up yourself
About Bannister & Son
Roger Bannister leads this family operation — reviews name him specifically for intricate key work including electronic fob programming, classic car keys, and remote replacements that Adelaide specialists had failed to source. Son Matt and team member Caleb each draw individual praise: Matt for car key diagnostics and after-hours responsiveness, Caleb for going the extra distance — literally borrowing a 4WD to reach a customer stranded in sand dunes near Robe. The business operates across a broader scope than a standard locksmith: alongside automotive and residential lock work they do leather repairs, shoe and boot resoling, belt making, engraving, and watch repairs, which is unusual and worth knowing before you assume they're only for keys. For automotive key emergencies they've demonstrated same-day turnaround — one review records a customer an hour out of town back on the road by 1:30pm after a morning call the day after Boxing Day, and another had a replacement key generated from a photo sent from Melbourne. They stock and sell Red Wing boots and leather goods in-store, and their engraving and leather-strip cutting work is done in-house rather than sent away.
Best for: travellers with a broken or lost car key passing through the region, residents needing specialist electronic key programming that dealers have failed to solve, and anyone wanting locksmith and leather or shoe repair handled in a single stop.
Location
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Claim This Profile — Free →Common questions about Bannister & Son
Does Bannister & Son do after-hours or emergency callouts?+
Yes — reviews specifically mention after-hours key replacement, including one customer who had a new car key made outside normal business hours. Caleb has been noted for going out of his way in genuine emergencies, including travelling to remote locations. It's worth calling ahead to confirm current availability and whether a callout fee applies for your situation.
Can they help if I'm not from Mount Gambier and my car key breaks while passing through?+
This is actually one of the most consistent patterns in the reviews. Multiple customers stranded in or around Mount Gambier — including people travelling from Melbourne and others an hour out of town — report being back on the road the same day. In one case a replacement key was cut from a photo sent remotely before the customer even arrived. If you're in this situation, call them first and explain the car make, model, and year.
What do customers say about pricing at Bannister & Son?+
Most reviewers describe the pricing as reasonable or affordable, and several specifically contrast it favourably with what dealers or competitors quoted. However, three customers in the reviews we analysed were surprised by the cost of key cutting — particularly for what they expected to be a simple job — and felt the price wasn't communicated before the work started. To avoid that, ask for a quote before they begin, especially for standard blank key cutting.
Do they only do locksmith work, or are there other services available?+
The business covers a wider range than the locksmith category suggests. Alongside automotive and residential key and lock work, they do shoe and boot resoling, leather repairs, belt making, engraving, and watch repair — all done in-house. They also sell Red Wing boots and leather goods in-store. If you're coming in for a key and have a boot that needs resoling, it's worth bringing it along.
Are there specific staff members known for particular jobs?+
Reviews name Roger Bannister for electronic key programming, specialist fob sourcing, and leather work; Matt is praised for automotive key diagnostics and after-hours help; and Caleb is specifically mentioned for going beyond the job on remote or difficult callouts. The business appears to be genuinely family-run with consistent involvement from these people rather than rotating casual staff.