How Farmweld began…
Back in 2003 the Hood family purchased a run down rural property in the Adelaide Hills and needed to replace some gates. The range of farm gates on the market was limited to either contemporary pipe gates or mesh field gates. These gates were mostly cheap imported, poorly made, and potentially unsafe for stock and humans. Tricia had renovated before and had the philosophy of “do it once and do it right”.
“We didn’t want to install gates which would need to be replaced in a few short years. We wanted something that would last.”
Not finding any suitable farm gates for sale Tricia and her then husband, made the decision to make their own gates and animal handling equipment which was strong and safe. “The gateways on the property were all odd sizes, so it was obvious that other people would be in the same predicament where standard gates wouldn’t fit”, she said. In 2006 we created prototypes for a small range of gates and farm products and Farmweld began.
Country Style Magazine article on the newly formed business ‘Farmweld’ showing the Railway Gate.
Our philosophy…
It was decided that all products would be custom made to suit our customers needs. In a way this was also a step in going back to the way businesses used to operate, with a focus on customer service, rather than just having to just conform to what was available in stores, as seems to be the way these days.
What we started to make…
The initial range of products consisted of mainly agricultural gates & equipment, but Tricia designed three unique ‘heritage style gates’. These bar gates began to sell well, so the range of heritage gates was expanded with more bar gate designs with both pipe and RHS frames, and demand continued to grow. It was a niche market.
Scrollwork and wrought iron was used a lot on old heritage gates from the early 1900’s. Customers began to ask about reproduction mesh & scroll gates. Consequently, these designs influenced by the old Cyclone gates were the next to be added to the range of heritage gates.
As Farmweld’s reputation for heritage gates grew, clients began to approach Farmweld and ask for reproductions and repairs to old blacksmithed gates. So, a forge was purchased in 2011 and custom hand forged blacksmithed gates were offered. Many metal gates pre-1900 were hand forged or made from cast iron. The most popular ‘farm style’ gates that began to flood the market in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s were the cast jointed gates, made by many foundries around Australia, including the Sunshine McKay and Simpson foundries. One gate from each of these companies was added to the range of bar gates.
Other products were added to the range during this period, including garden arches and furniture. However the heritage country gates have remained the most popular of Farmweld’s products.
New beginnings…
In 2022 Tricia and her husband parted ways, with him deregistering the partnership in 2023. Tricia rescued the business and kept Farmweld operating. The same loyal staff were kept on with the addition of one member from the next generation, Tricia’s son Aiden. He was now a young man and qualified boiler maker.
Farmweld continues today with the same ethos as it did nearly 20 years ago, making quality, customised products for our clients.
Why should I buy a Farmweld Product?
- Farmweld builds products up to standard, not down to a price,
- almost every item is custom made to the customers specifications.
- Why make do and just buy off the shelf when you can have something made exactly as you need it?
Customer Service
Old fashioned customer service and reliability seems to be a dying trait these days.
- We value our your business and make it a high priority to provide you with good customer service so that you get the product you really need.
- As a Farmweld customer you will be consulted before and if necessary during fabrication to ensure you get just what you require.