Cavanagh Bros Pty Ltd Reunion
CAVANAGH BROS – THE END OF AN ERA
On the 2nd June 2006 Cavanagh Bros delivered its final load of goods after 76 years in the transport business. The Cavanagh family headed by Brian Cavanagh, with sons Nick and Chris in charge of its present operation, have decided upon a strategic change in direction in allocating 100% of its resources out of its transport interests and into other warehouse related activities.
The change can be attributed to many reasons, the most prominent including a desire for better returns on investment, less risk, rising fuel costs with limited cost recovery opportunity and the ability to operate the business within the family unit.
Colliers International Executives Troy Whalan and Jason Rasmussen handled the sale and lease of the company’s two adjoining sites in Rocklea. The Dunn Rd site was leased to Bob Fountain Transport for a five plus five-year term and the Suscatand St site was sold to Cornerstone Properties.
A brief history…
Cavanagh Bros commenced operations in 1930 with founder Jim Cavanagh carting general freight from the docks at North Quay. Tired of waiting in queues with other carriers, Jim found a niche market in collecting scrap wood from the City Hall construction site and then selling it as firewood. This soon expanded to include coke and coal with deliveries focused around the Red Hill, Paddington and Kelvin Grove area.
Jim was joined by his brother Vic shortly after and the two men proceeded to build a thriving small business. Best known for the sparkling dark green (not black) trucks the Cavanagh Fleet continued to grow until the accidental death of Jim Cavanagh in 1960. At this stage Jim’s son Brian, who was studying accounting, joined the company at the age of 19.
Brian’s involvement saw the company experience further growth and by the seventies and eighties Cavanagh Bros was a well established and well respected medium sized transport provider on the Brisbane landscape. It was through this period and under Brian’s leadership that the company started to build warehouses while still expanding the fleet capability into nearly all forms of bulk transport.
In 1990 after completing a business degree Brian’s son Nick joined the company and was followed in 1994 by his younger brother Chris. By the nineties and into the present day Cavanagh Bros were operating a range of bulk coal and grain tippers, pneumatic tankers, liquid tankers and a full compliment of container handing trailers including sideloaders, container tippers and drop decks. Configurations included smaller metro semi’s all the way up to road train and AB triple combinations.
On the 2nd June 2006 Cavanagh Bros delivered its final load of goods after 76 years in the transport business. The Cavanagh family headed by Brian Cavanagh, with sons Nick and Chris in charge of its present operation, have decided upon a strategic change in direction in allocating 100% of its resources out of its transport interests and into other warehouse related activities.
The change can be attributed to many reasons, the most prominent including a desire for better returns on investment, less risk, rising fuel costs with limited cost recovery opportunity and the ability to operate the business within the family unit.
Colliers International Executives Troy Whalan and Jason Rasmussen handled the sale and lease of the company’s two adjoining sites in Rocklea. The Dunn Rd site was leased to Bob Fountain Transport for a five plus five-year term and the Suscatand St site was sold to Cornerstone Properties.
A brief history…
Cavanagh Bros commenced operations in 1930 with founder Jim Cavanagh carting general freight from the docks at North Quay. Tired of waiting in queues with other carriers, Jim found a niche market in collecting scrap wood from the City Hall construction site and then selling it as firewood. This soon expanded to include coke and coal with deliveries focused around the Red Hill, Paddington and Kelvin Grove area.
Jim was joined by his brother Vic shortly after and the two men proceeded to build a thriving small business. Best known for the sparkling dark green (not black) trucks the Cavanagh Fleet continued to grow until the accidental death of Jim Cavanagh in 1960. At this stage Jim’s son Brian, who was studying accounting, joined the company at the age of 19.
Brian’s involvement saw the company experience further growth and by the seventies and eighties Cavanagh Bros was a well established and well respected medium sized transport provider on the Brisbane landscape. It was through this period and under Brian’s leadership that the company started to build warehouses while still expanding the fleet capability into nearly all forms of bulk transport.
In 1990 after completing a business degree Brian’s son Nick joined the company and was followed in 1994 by his younger brother Chris. By the nineties and into the present day Cavanagh Bros were operating a range of bulk coal and grain tippers, pneumatic tankers, liquid tankers and a full compliment of container handing trailers including sideloaders, container tippers and drop decks. Configurations included smaller metro semi’s all the way up to road train and AB triple combinations.
