Lyla Lindsey
The Victa rotary lawn mower, developed in 1952 by Richardson in his backyard in Concord, New South Wales, is regarded by many as an Australian icon. The company has since expanded globally, with an assembly line in Kemps Creek, NSW, and various models assembled overseas in the USA and China. While Victa was acquired by Sunbeam Corporation Ltd in 1970 and sold to GUD Holdings Limited in 1996, it has remained an iconic Australian brand with a history spanning more than 65 years. In 2008, Victa Lawn Care was sold to American-based Briggs & Stratton, and today, lawn mower products continue to be made in Australia at the Kemps Creek, NSW head office.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Current owner | Briggs & Stratton Corporation |
| Current headquarters | Kemps Creek, NSW, Australia |
| Current manufacturing locations | Australia, USA, China |
| Engine supplier | Briggs & Stratton |
| Engine manufacturing locations | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Number of countries exported to (as of 2002) | 30 |
| Number of mowers sold (as of 2002) | 6.5 million |
| First developed | August 1952 |
| Founder | Richardson |
| Original headquarters | Concord, NSW, Australia |
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What You'll Learn
Victa mowers are assembled in Kemps Creek, NSW
The Victa rotary lawn mower was first developed in 1952 by Richardson in his backyard in Concord, New South Wales. In 1953, he left his job to become the full-time manager of his new company, Victa Mowers Pty Ltd. In 1958, the company moved to a new factory at Milperra, New South Wales, and by 1965, his son, Garry Richardson, had become chairman.
In 1970, Victa was acquired by Sunbeam Corporation Ltd, and in 1994, the factory moved to Campsie. In 1996, the company was sold to GUD Holdings Limited, who then sold the Victa Lawn Care business to American-based Briggs & Stratton in 2008.
While most of the design and manufacturing capabilities have remained in Australia, including assembly, research and development, and parts manufacture, the engines are sourced from Briggs & Stratton's facilities in Wisconsin, USA. Additionally, various models are assembled overseas, including in the USA and China.
Today, Victa mowers are assembled in Kemps Creek, NSW, at the company's head office. This location serves as an assembly plant for the brand, ensuring that the mowers meet Victa's rigorous quality and safety standards. The company takes pride in its Australian heritage and has become a global exporter of lawn care products, recognised as a lifestyle 'brand of choice' in Australia.
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Some models are assembled in the USA and China
While Victa is an iconic Australian brand, with lawn mower products still being made in Australia at its head office in Kemps Creek, NSW, various models are assembled overseas, including in the USA and China. The company was sold to American-based Briggs & Stratton in 2008, and all engine products are now sourced from Briggs & Stratton's facilities in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Victa has an assembly line in Kemps Creek, NSW, where models are still assembled today. However, the company has expanded its operations to include overseas assembly as well. This allows Victa to meet the demands of a global market and take advantage of cost efficiencies that may be available in other countries.
The expansion of assembly operations overseas does not mean that Victa has completely moved away from its Australian roots. The company still maintains a strong presence in Australia, with its head office and assembly line located in Kemps Creek, NSW. This assembly line is responsible for producing a significant number of Victa mowers, ensuring that the company retains its connection to its Australian heritage.
The decision to assemble some models in the USA and China was likely driven by a combination of factors, including cost considerations, access to a larger labour market, and the ability to more efficiently serve international markets. By utilising assembly facilities in these countries, Victa can take advantage of lower labour costs and proximity to target markets, ultimately resulting in reduced production costs and increased competitiveness in the global market.
It is worth noting that Victa maintains rigorous quality and safety standards across all its operations, regardless of the assembly location. All internationally sourced components and finished goods are designed, manufactured, and tested to ensure compliance with the company's high standards. This ensures that Victa customers can expect the same level of quality and performance, regardless of where their mower was assembled.
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Victa mowers were developed in 1952 by Richardson in his backyard
The Victa lawn mower was developed in 1952 by Mervyn Victor Richardson in his backyard in Concord, New South Wales. While it was not the first rotary lawn mower ever developed, Richardson's design was cheaper, lighter, and easier to use than previous models. This gave the Victa mower a competitive advantage over other mowers on the market at the time.
Richardson's inspiration for the Victa mower came from his son, Gary, who started a mowing business in 1949. Wanting to make the process easier for his son, Richardson set out to build a lawn mower that was more lightweight and powerful. He achieved this by utilising a Villiers two-stroke engine mounted on its side, which allowed the mower to be operated by a single person, unlike the heavier models that required two people to operate.
Richardson's prototype, known as the ""Peach-Tin Prototype", was made from scrap metal with a peach tin used as a fuel tank. This prototype was created in August 1952, and by 1953, the demand for these mowers had grown significantly. This led Richardson to leave his job and become the full-time manager of his newly formed company, Victa Mowers Pty Ltd.
Within just two years, Victa had sold an impressive 20,000 mowers and began exporting them internationally. The company continued to improve its technology, design, and marketing strategies, which led to booming sales. In 1958, Victa moved to a new factory in Milperra, New South Wales, and its 3,000 employees were building 143,000 mowers per year for export to 28 countries.
Today, the Victa brand is recognised as an Australian icon, with its lawn mowers being sold and exported worldwide. Although the brand has changed hands over the years, with the company being acquired by various corporations, Victa remains a leading manufacturer of outdoor garden equipment, known for its innovation, strong performance, and reliability.
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The company was sold to Briggs & Stratton in 2008
The Victa brand, an Australian manufacturer of outdoor garden equipment, was sold to American engine manufacturer Briggs & Stratton in 2008. The Victa company was founded by Mervyn Victor Richardson in 1952, and by 2002, 6.5 million Victa mowers had been sold in 30 countries.
In 1996, the company was sold to GUD Holdings Limited, who then sold the Victa Lawn Care business to Briggs & Stratton for A$23 million in 2008. Briggs & Stratton is headquartered in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and is a global leader in providing power to get work done, manufacturing automotive components and small gasoline engines. The company has 13 large facilities in the U.S. and eight more across the world, with products sold in over 100 countries.
While most of the design and manufacturing capabilities of Victa products have remained in Australia, including assembly, research and development, and parts manufacture, all engine products are now sourced from Briggs & Stratton's facilities in Wisconsin. Victa products continue to be sold in Australia and New Zealand through major hardware chains and specialist dealers, and some products are available in other countries through dealers.
The Victa lawnmower is regarded as an Australian icon, even featuring in the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
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Victa mowers are no longer Australian-made
The Victa rotary lawn mower was first developed in 1952 in Concord, New South Wales, by an Australian named Richardson. Over the years, the company expanded and became a global exporter of lawn care products. However, it is important to note that Victa mowers are no longer Australian-made.
In 2008, Victa Lawn Care was sold to the American-based Briggs & Stratton Corporation for A$23 million. While Victa's head office remains in Kemps Creek, New South Wales, and some assembly, research, development, and parts manufacture still occur in Australia, the engines are now sourced from Briggs & Stratton's facilities in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the United States. Additionally, various models of Victa mowers are also assembled in the United States and China.
This shift in manufacturing locations may be attributed to the acquisition of Victa by larger corporations. In 1970, Victa was acquired by Sunbeam Corporation Ltd., and later, in 1996, the company was sold to GUD Holdings Limited. These changes in ownership could have influenced the decision to expand manufacturing operations globally.
While Victa mowers are no longer solely Australian-made, the brand continues to be recognized as an Australian icon. The Victa lawnmower was even featured in the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, showcasing its significance in Australian culture. Additionally, Victa has earned a reputation for innovation, strong performance, and reliability over the past six decades. Today, the company listens to its customers and evolves its products to meet the demands of a changing climate and diverse lifestyles.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Victa mowers are still assembled in Australia at their head office in Kemps Creek, NSW. However, some models are assembled overseas, including in the USA and China.
While Victa was founded in Australia, it was sold to American-based Briggs & Stratton in 2008 and is no longer an Australian company.
All engine products are sourced from Briggs & Stratton's facilities in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Yes, in addition to the USA and China, Victa also has assembly lines in other countries where various models are assembled.
