Ingleridge Estate

The History of Southern Cross Toowoomba Foundry

 

For 74 years Australia’s Toowoomba Foundry produced a range of steam, petrol, kerosene and diesel engines. Each bore the name Southern Cross.

 

From the simple 1½-horsepower Farm Pump to 100-ton locomotives, the Southern Cross reputation for ruggedness and reliability was known across the globe.  Southern Cross has  origins back to a primitive hand-made steam engine of 1876. The first petrol engine appeared in 1910 and is a copy of a English engine from the ‘Bristol Wagon & Carriage Company’, called a "Victoria". Southern Cross ceased making engines by 1920.

 

Southern Cross was also agents for other makes of engines McDonald Imperial Super Diesel engines from 1921/23. In 1922 Southern Cross was selling a Farm Pump Engine called "Challenge Farm Pump" made by Roseberry Company Sydney NSW.

 

Toowoomba Foundry’s most famous products, the Southern Cross windmills in 30 different models, have been produced between 1874 and the present day.

 

Other Southern Cross products covered are portable steam engines, steam locomotives, experimental aircraft, lawnmowers, aluminium boats and many other items.

 

 “Puggy” Griffiths, son of the founder. Puggy began working at the Foundry when he was 17 and was still an active Director 73 years later. He devoted his life to seeing that Southern Cross products were second to none.