Caterpillar in Australia
Caterpillar was established in Australia in 1955 with a leased office. In 1957, Caterpillar opened a motor grader manufacturing facility in Melbourne. Today, Caterpillar brands such as Cat®, FG Wilson, Perkins, Solar and EMD serve local customers in major industry segments including general construction, mining, oil and gas, marine, power generation, government and defense, forestry, waste, quarry/aggregates, paving and technology.
Our Caterpillar technology subject matter experts work today on autonomous and remote-controlled mining equipment at mine sites throughout Australia. Our Melbourne Distribution Centre (Victoria) and Queensland Distribution Centre distribute parts to local customers.
Our local team partners with our local Cat® dealers and Cat Financial to provide world-class service and support to local customers.
Primary Locations
Key Offices: Tullamarine
Parts Distribution: Melbourne, Queensland
Manufacturing: Revesby, Redbank, Cardiff, Perth
Holt Caterpillar 60 tractor pulling a combine in Australia circa 1913.
Two Cat 793F CMD autonomous trucks operating at Fortescue iron ore mine.
Things to Know: Caterpillar in Australia
- 1913: Representatives from the Holt Manufacturing Company came to Australia on a quest to prove the value of Holt track-type tractors.
- 1949 to 1974: Caterpillar machines help construct the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric-Scheme project, one of the largest engineering projects ever undertaken.
- 1955: Caterpillar of Australia established.
- 1956: Hundreds of Caterpillar machines prepare sites for major sporting events in Australia.
- 1967: Caterpillar machines and engines work on construction of a 256-mile railroad between Mount Newman and Port Hedland.
- 1980s: Thousands of Caterpillar machines sold to mining companies during a period of industry expansion across the country.
- 1995: 94 Caterpillar G3516 generator sets fueled by coal seam gas are installed at the Appin and Tower coal mines in New South Wales, one of the largest coal seam gas energy projects in the world, producing 437 tons of gas per day.
- 2012: Shipped a record 1473 mining machines
