About Toowoomba Saddlery

MANUFACTURERS | IMPORTERS | EXPORTERS

Established in 1968, Toowoomba Saddlery is a family owned and operated Wholesale Manufacturing business based in Toowoomba, QLD Australia. Over more than fifty years, we have serviced over 700 stores Australia wide, and have established distributors in the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Italy, Japan, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Philippines & Vanuatu. Making us one of the largest saddle manufacturers and distributors in the Southern Hemisphere.

The 2 sides of business

Toowoomba Saddlery: A Brief History and timeline

At the age of fourteen, a young Garth Delbridge left school to accept a saddlery apprenticeship with local Toowoomba firm James Rogers and Sons. Upon completion Garth pursued other employment opportunities within Toowoomba and married his wife Sandra. However, he continued to work at home in his own time until it became obvious that they’d need to become involved in the industry full time.

• 1968 Toowoomba Saddlery was founded in a timber double garage behind the Delbridges’ Taylor Street home, producing leather strapping for Butler Brothers and repairing saddles.
• 1969 saw the opening of a proper shop front on Anzac Avenue.
• 1973 Syd Hill and Sons appointed Toowoomba Saddlery as their agent and sales increased rapidly.
  Toowoomba Saddlery found exclusive agents in four countries and actively exported to twelve countries on a regular basis.
  It became necessary to carry two to three hundred brand new Syd Hill saddles in stock.
• 1977 a new premises was built in Hill Street (Toowoomba) to meet demand.
• In thirty seven years, until the agency’s end in 2010, Toowoomba Saddlery sold in excess of thirty-five thousand Syd Hill Saddles.
• 1979 When Garth obtained his pilot’s license and aircraft, it really opened Toowoomba Saddlery up to remote areas. It became possible to travel from Toowoomba to Darwin in ten hours with one fuel stop (instead of four full days by road). Australia had its own flying saddler.
• 1992 – 1997 agency for Wintan Tannery, NSW, kick-starting our expansion into raw material supply.
  Establishing lasting relationships with overseas manufacturers of saddlery materials and hardware.
• 1999 Toowoomba Saddlery was appointed as a distributor for Hermann Oak Leather Company, USA. When it arrived, staff could not believe how popular this leather was!
• 1994 To accomodate demand, a brand new 1400m2 warehouse and office complex was purchased in McDougall Street (Our current location).
• 2012 Toowoomba Saddlery was importing more than sixty-four tonnes of leather each year and supplying 1200 stores and saddlers throughout Australia. Delivery of a custom-made leather cutting press from Taiwan helped us keep up with demand for saddles, now made on-site in our workshop.
• 2018 Toowoomba Saddlery celebrates 50 years of business and business remains strong

Modern Day Toowoomba Saddlery

Over the years Toowoomba Saddlery has expanded its range to include synthetic tack and other items. Despite added competition the business remains strong. Hermann Oak® leather remains popular today, and we import containers regularly to keep up with demand. We continue to supply hundreds of distributors in Australia, including large outlets such as Saddleworld and Horseland as well as other independant stores. We also have several overseas distributors and supply over a hundred saddle and tack manufacturers in Australia, New Zealand and beyond.

The success of Toowoomba Saddlery is in no small part due to the progressive attitude, experience and loyalty of the management and staff, as well as feedback from our loyal distributors. This experience is invaluable to the ongoing development of new products and the continuing high standard of products manufactured on a daily basis.