A SHORT HISTORY

SOUTHERN CROSS INDUSTRIES (PTY) LTD COMMENCED BUSINESS AS THE "SOUTHERN CROSS WINDMILL AND ENGINE CO" DURING 1939 IN THE THEN UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA. AT THAT TIME IT WAS EFFECTIVELY CONTROLLED BY THE SOUTHERN CROSS ORGANISATION WITH HEADQUARTERS AND FACTORY IN TOOWOOMBA, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA. THE PURPOSE OF OPPENING THE SOUTH AFRICAN OPPERATION WAS FOR IT TO DISTRIBUTE PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED IN AUSTRALIA. AT THAT TIME THE CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDERS WERE THE FAMILY OF THE FOUNDING FATHER OF THE COMPANY, GEORGE WASHINGTON GRIFFITHS. THE SITUATION HAS MUCH CHANGED TODAY AND SOUTHERN CROSS INDUSTRIES (SOUTH AFRICA) AND THE VARIOUS AUSTRALIAN COMPANIES FORMING WHAT WAS THE SOUTHERN CROSS ORGANISATION OF EARLIER YEARS HAVE NO CORPORATE RELATIONSHIP OTHER THAN COMMERCIAL TIES. SOUTHERN CROSS INDUSTRIES (PTY) IS TODAY A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF SOUTHERN CROSS MACHINERY (PTY) LTD, A COMPANY REGISTERED IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA. THE COMPANY IS STILL CONTROLLED BY A BRANCH OF THE GRIFFITHS FAMILY.

THROUGH FORMAL AND INFORMAL TIES SOUTHERN CROSS INDUSTRIES HAS MANUFACTURED MANY OF THE PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED BY THE AUSTRALIAN ORGANISATION AND IS PROUD OF IT'S AUSTRALIAN ROOTS, MANUFACTURING AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTS OF EXCELLENT QUALITY ADAPTED TO AFRICAN CONDITIONS WHERE NECESSARY.

SOUTHERN CROSS UNDERWENT A RADICAL TRANSFORMATION IN THE 1950'S WITH THE BUILDING OF IT'S OWN MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN BLOEMFONTEIN COMPRISING MOST OF THE MANUFACTURING FACILITIES REQUIRED TO PRODUCE THE PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED IN TOOWOOMBA. TODAY IT HAS BRANCHES IN ALL MAJOR CENTRES AND A DIVERSIFIED PRODUCT PORTFOLIO IN THE AGRICULTURAL WATER SUPPLY SECTOR, SHEEP SHEARING MACHINERY AND DOMESTIC PUSH ROTARY LAWNMOWERS.

SOUTHERN CROSS IS APPROACHING THE NEXT CENTURY WITH A NEW LAWNMOWER PRODUCT RANGE SPECIFICALLY TAILORED TO INCREASING CONSUMER REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFETY AND EASE OF USE. DEMAND CONTINUES FOR TRADITIONAL WATER PUMPING PRODUCTS DUE TO THEIR ECONOMY OF USE AND ECOLOGICAL FRIENDLINESS.

THE PHOTOGRAPHS BELOW GIVE A BRIEF PICTORIAL HISTORY OF OUR PRODUCTS.

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