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Garth Delbridge left school at the age of 14 to accept a Saddlery apprenticeship with a local Toowoomba firm of James Rogers and Sons. After completion of a five-year apprenticeship Garth left the Saddlery industry to work as a plant operator and later with the Toowoomba Fire Brigade.
This time away from the industry was not lost as Garth continued saddlery work at home after hours and on weekends until it became obvious to Garth and his wife Sandra that they would have to become involved in the industry on a full time basis.
Toowoomba Saddlery was founded in a small tool shed behind their home in Toowoomba in 1968.
In 1969 a small commercial premises was purchased with a view to increasing their manufacturing output for both the wholesale and retail saddlery markets.
To support the growing business in 1973, Garth actively pursued two directions of growth, distributorships and export markets.
Following a trip to Singapore in 1973, which proved to be very successful, Toowoomba Saddlery's business had grown to the point where we have exclusive agents in 4 countries and actively export to 12 countries on a regular basis.
This increased export market along with our growing local market created a need for more saddles of all types to be ready for shipment in days and not weeks or months as was the case. Following discussions in 1973 with Syd Hill and Sons Pty Ltd of Brisbane Australia, Toowoomba Saddlery was appointed a distributor of Syd Hill and Sons saddles. This distributorship is still in place today and we are fortunate to have been able to supply the industry with the most recognized brand name in stock saddles in the world, made by the largest manufactures of Australian stock saddles in the Southern Hemisphere.
As Toowoomba Saddlery grew it became obvious that because of the vastness and distance needed to be traveled to promote our products, an aircraft was the answer, so in 1979 Toowoomba Saddlery purchased a new Cessna aircraft and Garth then started to learn to fly to obtain his unrestricted pilots license to enable Toowoomba Saddlery to service the outback. Later this aircraft proved to be too small for the long hauls and a twin engine Beechcraft was purchased. The purchase of an aircraft proved to be an outstanding success in opening markets in remote parts of Australia.
After continued strong growth Toowoomba Saddlery's need for larger premises was never more apparent than in 1977 when a new 430sq. metre warehouse and factory complex was developed. 1991 saw the need for these premises to expand to 700sq. metres and by 1994 after another period of rapid growth our present 1500sq. Metre office and warehouse complex was purchased at 266-268 McDougall St., Toowoomba.
The quest for new products and continuity of supply of established products in the early 1990's saw Toowoomba Saddlery move into the direct importing of many products especially in the saddlery hardware area, predominantly from South East Asia and also leather from the USA, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Hermann Oak Leather Company of St. Louis in USA has appointed Toowoomba Saddlery as their sole distributor for Australia and New Zealand for their very high quality skirting, tooling, latigo and bridle leathers.
Today Toowoomba Saddlery is one of the largest distributors and manufactures of saddlery, saddlery hardware and saddlery leather in Australia.
The success of Toowoomba Saddlery is in no small part due to the progressive attitude, experience and loyalty of the management and staff. This experience is invaluable to the ongoing development of new products and the continuing high standard of products manufactured on a daily basis. Toowoomba Saddlery is now in it’s 41st year of business and has had 41 years of continuous growth.
The Company is solely owned and operated by the Delbridge Family with Garth & Sandra’s sons Robert & Barry as directors of the Company. Robert & Barry both completed their apprenticeship’s as saddlers with Toowoomba Saddlery and have have a combined experience with the company for over 40 years.
Toowoomba Saddlery strives to supply quality products at the right price in the quickest possible time. |
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