History

Vanderfield Pty Ltd is a large farm machinery and truck dealership whose head office is in Toowoomba in Queensland, Australia. Toowoomba is situated in close proximity to the Darling Downs, an area which supports a wide range of agricultural commodities, including cotton, summer and winter grain crops, horticulture, dairying and beef production.

Branches of Vanderfield are located in Gatton, Queensland (35 kms East of Toowoomba), St George, Queensland (400 kms West of Toowoomba), Darwin in the Northern Territory, Kununurra in Western Australia and Nerang on Queensland's Gold Coast.

The Company was founded in 1963 by Gordon Vandersee and started out in Toowoomba as a designer and manufacturer of front-end loaders. It later became a New Holland & Chamberlain dealership. When Chamberlain and John Deere joined forces in Australia in 1970, Vanderfield became a John Deere dealership.

Vanderfield's St George branch was opened in 1982. St George is well established as a large irrigation area; cotton is the primary product. The area also produces dryland winter wheat, wool and beef.

The Gatton branch was opened in 1983. Gatton is in the heart of the fertile Lockyer Valley which is Queensland's premier fruit and vegetable growing region.

An adventurous move to Northern Australia early in 1999 saw the opening of the Darwin and Kununurra branches. The move to Darwin and Kununurra was stimulated by the fact that new farming areas are being opened up by the authorities in the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

In 2005 Vanderfield opened 'Vanderfield Gold Coast Hino' as a sales, parts and service facility initially for trucks but shortly after encorporating John Deere lawn and garden equipment. Vanderfield Gold Coast Hino is located in Nerang on the Gold Coast in southeast Queensland.

When Gordon Vandersee retired in 1991 he handed over the reins of the business to his sons, Bruce and Robert. Bruce is now the Managing Director of Vanderfield. Robert is the Branch Manager in Toowoomba.

As a John Deere dealer, Vanderfield markets the complete range of John Deere farm equipment. The Company was instrumental in being the first to bring cotton pickers into Australia. Since 1996, Vanderfield Toowoomba has been the largest individual John Deere dealer in Australia

Vanderfield also markets Autofarm GPS Guidance Systems, Hardi spraying equipment, Gyral implements, Simplicity air seeders, Westfield augers, Janke equipment, Howard slashers, mulchers, rotary tillage, mowing and hay equipment and loaders, Gessner broadacre and rowcrop equipment and Manitou telehandlers. The Company imports a range of products including Honey Bee header fronts, Orthman row crop equipment, Batco conveyors, and Trioliet mixers.

In 1993 Vanderfield took on the Japanese Hino truck range, which is marketed by Vanderfield Hino throughout southwest Queensland. In 1999 Vanderfield Hino received an unprecedented seven awards for their achievements in sales, parts and service. In 2003 Vanderfield Hino was recognized as the Hino Dealer of The Year.

In December 2001 Vanderfield Darwin was appointed to handle sales, parts and service for Western Star and MAN trucks. In June 2003 the Darwin branch was appointed to handle Hino trucks.

From Day One, Vanderfield has prided themselves on their very high standard of customer service, a fact that has played a significant role in their continuing success. The service teams at all six Vanderfield outlets are fully equipped and factory trained, with access to a comprehensive parts back-up. Air support using two Company aircraft extends as far north as Kununurra and as far south as the Victorian border.