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Our story

“Don’t look over your shoulder - you’ll get a sore neck!”

Packing up a young family and heading 564km west of Sydney to start a business, before transforming an industry new to Australia, it’s fair to say the Reddel family prefer to embrace the future rather than dwell on the past.

Here’s how the Allshelter story began.

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Doug’s business Lake Plumbing was soon up and running, but over the years it became obvious that he’d have to diversify to provide employment for his family when they joined the workforce.

Following a trip to North America, Doug’s brother-in-law mentioned an innovative agricultural shelter he had spotted on his travels. The pair identified a similar need for local farmers who needed to keep animals and produce protected and cool from the harsh climate to maximise their output.

As the American design wasn’t totally suitable for Australian conditions, Doug set about reverse engineering and improving the design. By that stage, Doug’s sons Tim, Roger and Russell were old enough to help in the business.
After creating a working prototype, an advert in The Land newspaper landed them their first order of a grain storage shelter for a farm north of Dubbo in 1999. Determined to be on site at daybreak, they loaded up their plumbing truck and set off in the 3am darkness.
After custom designing a shelter attached to a shipping container for a client, they saw a broader opportunity for a whole new product range. In 2003 the family created Australia’s first range of shipping container mounted dome shelters. Helped by this innovation, the team quickly grew to a dozen staff.
With the drought impacting the agricultural market in the mid 2000s, Allshelter diversified into the mining and construction industry with orders coming in from the Pilbara in Western Australia and even overseas.
In 2006, Cyclone George tragically struck the Pilbara region with intense 205km/h winds causing severe destruction. While the event wreaked $8 million in damage, Allshelters container shelters in the area withstood the winds. Allshelter had been the first manufacturer to create cyclone-rated shelters for winds of 300km/hour, and this event provided the proof they needed to confidently recommend this product to other high wind regions.
In 2010 Allshelter was also the first shelter supplier to offer a 10-year warranty and soon after released a revolutionary range of permanent yet towable shelters.
After custom designing a shelter attached to a shipping container for a client, they saw a broader opportunity for a whole new product range. In 2003 the family created Australia’s first range of shipping container mounted dome shelters. Helped by this innovation, the team quickly grew to a dozen staff.
While the original and significantly expanded primary metal fabrication plant remains at Lake Cargelligo, the new facility includes a warehouse plus a manufacturing section for fabric conversion and metal fabrication.
In 2017 Allshelter released their Express Range of fixed-price shelters with guaranteed 2-week delivery times. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they donated a drive-through COVID-19 testing shelter to St Vincent’s Hospital to set up in Bondi, and also supplied several more testing shelters across Australia.
This attitude of constant innovation and pioneering spirit is summed up in the philosophy of Tim Reddel, now Managing Director, who is focused on the future. He says: “Don’t look over your shoulder too much, you’ll get a sore neck!”
With 10 grandchildren running around between the 4 Reddel children, the next generation is not far behind.
And guess what? That original shelter north of Dubbo is still standing over 21 years later!

A track-record
of firsts

Since 1999, Allshelter has consistently delivered industry firsts. From introducing the container shelter concept through to cyclone rated, towable and Express Shelters. That’s why we continue to be the clear first choice in container shelters.
1992
1999
2000
2003
2005
2006
2010
2011
2016
2017
2020
TODAY
Tree change
Doug Reddel moves from Sydney to Lake Cargelligo and starts Lake Plumbing.
The big idea
With his three sons helping the business, Allshelter launches with a grain shelter north of Dubbo.
On a roller
Trading in a plumbing ute, they invest $30k in a section roller to create curved roofs.
First range of shipping containers
Design of Australia’s first shipping container mounted dome shelters and first export to Papua New Guinea.
Momentum builds
Attracting national and international customers, the team grows to a dozen staff.
Winds of change
Our Australian-first cyclone shelters (rated to winds of 300km/h) withstand WA’s Cyclone George.
Industry’s first 10 year warranty
Our 10-year warranty on frame and cover is the first and longest. Team grows to 20+
On the move
In another first, we release a range of permanent but towable shelters.
Bigger & better
Head office expansion and Blue Mountains factory, and we strike a UK export partnership.
Express shelters
Ground-breaking launch of fixed-price shelters with guaranteed 2-week delivery.
Testing times in Bondi
We donate a drive-through COVID-19 testing shelter to St Vincent's Hospital.
Control your tomorrow
Guess what? That original grain storage shelter north of Dubbo still stands 21+ years later!

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