From Backyard Beginnings to Australia’s Largest Family-Owned Foundry: A 65-Year Journey
By Nick White, 3rd Generation
In early 1960, my grandfather Robert “Bob” White went in for a haircut and came out with the beginnings of a business. His barber, Bernie Leahy, a champion water-skier, asked if Bob could cast him some new ski fittings. Bob said yes. A month later, Bernie was back on the water at the National Championships with brand-new hardware, and soon, word spread across the country.
From those early beginnings casting fittings in a backyard, White Industries has grown into one of Australia’s most trusted names in foundry work. For 65 years, we’ve proudly manufactured in regional Queensland, developing a resilient, local supply chain that supports Australian jobs and industries.
Bob teamed up with his mate Wilf Hagan started casting each afternoon in Bob’s backyard in Brisbane, until the council letters started arriving. After a few moves, they relocated to Dalby and committed to building a serious operation. White Industries was officially born.
From agricultural castings in the early years to the complex industrial components we produce today, our growth has mirrored that of Australian industry itself. In the late 1960s, the business outgrew its original site. By the early 2000s, we had acquired the Rocklea Foundry, installed an advanced German-built BMD moulding line, and brought new life to the former Bradken Ipswich site, re-employing many experienced tradespeople and expanding our capabilities dramatically.
Today, we produce high-integrity castings ranging from 1kg to 20 tonnes across two Queensland sites. Our Dalby and Ipswich facilities allow us to supply everything from one-off parts for local operators to ongoing supply contracts for major ASX-listed companies across mining, defence, transport, and pumping.
What hasn’t changed is our commitment to Australian manufacturing and regional development. We remain 100% family owned and continue to invest in training, technology, and people, ensuring that the next generation of skilled tradespeople are ready to carry the industry forward.
As a third-generation family member, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built. From humble beginnings to a nationally recognised manufacturer, White Industries has always been driven by a belief in quality, community, and doing the job right.
To our customers, employees, suppliers, and community, thank you. You’ve been part of every step of our 65-year journey. We’re proud of where we’ve come from, and even more, excited about where we’re headed.
