MEMBER FEATURE
THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED The origins of ARB go back to 1975, when company founder, Tony Brown, was inspired by a 4WDing trip through the top end of Australia
Today the company employs more than 2,000 people, many of which can be described as serious 4WD enthusiasts. Back when Tony Brown started the business, 4WDers relied on homemade or ill-fitting equipment that was not designed for extensive Outback expeditions. Endless corrugated roads, extreme temperatures, and the heavy loads carried by Australian travellers were tremendously punishing on vehicles that regularly tackled these kinds of conditions. Tony’s many years spent toiling on his Series 1 Land Rover proved highly beneficial to others in the top end during his travels. Damaged bull bars and broken roof racks ensured Tony’s expertise was called upon regularly. Through this experience, an idea was born: well-engineered, durable equipment that would meet the rigorous demands of 4WD owners. After one of his many top-end adventures, returning home to Melbourne, Tony put theory into practice and began working in the family garage to address some of the product deficiencies he’d encountered on his trips. “It was exactly what Australian 4WDers had been waiting for and ARB, the initials of Anthony Ronald Brown, was founded,” ARB Director of Sales and Marketing, Matthew Frost, explained. Today, ARB says it is Australia’s largest manufacturer and distributor of 4x4 accessories. “We have a vast international presence, with offices in the USA, Europe, and the Middle East, and an export network that extends through more
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than 100 countries around the globe,” Matthew explained. “Our philosophy, however, has never wavered from its original course; quality, reliability, and practicality above all else.” Tony’s two brothers, Andy and Roger, were quick to join the business as well. One, an MBA, was able to inject his business skills, and the other was a skilled engineer, and together the three grew the business quickly, leveraging their complementary skill sets. “While Tony’s initial focus was on roof-racks, it was not long after launching the business that he started dabbling with bull bars and today, these are still the cornerstones of ARB’s continued success,” Matthew explained. “It wasn’t long before the trio outgrew the confines of the family’s garage, moving the business to a rented factory in the outer Eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
“Of course, our exponential growth over the journey has seen us move many times. Even today, our international headquarters are still located in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.” While Founder Tony Brown left the business just before Matthew started with ARB in 1993, Andy and Roger are still actively involved in the business today; Roger as Chairman, and Andy in the role of Managing Director. ARB’s exceptional growth can be tracked in line with Australia’s ever-increasing appetite for 4WDs and their appreciation of quality products that are designed to perform even in the harshest conditions. “One of the big game-changers in our industry is the launch of a new vehicle,” Matthew explained. “The first was the launch of the Toyota Land Cruiser 40 Series in the early 1980s.” The 40 Series created a massive demand because it was tough, reliable, fuel-efficient, and that combination attracted the attention of an awful lot of people. As a result, the team at ARB designed a range of protection and storage products specifically to suit the 40 series cruiser, effectively securing their position as Australia’s largest manufacturer and distributor of 4x4 accessories “The Hilux was also a great vehicle for us,” said Matthew. “It changed the way Australians purchased 4WDs. Before the Hilux and the 40 Series Land Cruiser were available, people would have been buying old Land Rovers and things like that. “As the vehicle selection improves, more people started buying them, and then there was more demand for our products, and that still rings true today.” The Hilux was one of the first vehicles for which ARB developed a complete fit-out, and their range
