From humble beginnings, Furphy products – and the Aussie slang it inspired – are now used by everyday Australians.
The regional Victorian family business manufactures a range of metal products used by companies and communities nationwide: the stainless-steel tank used to produce the milk you drink each morning or the shelter you sit beneath at your local park.
The business was established by John Furphy, who worked as a blacksmith in Kyneton. In 1873, he relocated north to Shepparton to capitalise on the region’s riches.
Furphy started a new foundry there, and business quickly grew. He is most famous for creating the Furphy water cart – seen everywhere across farms and military camps during World War I and the inspiration for the common phrase ‘to tell a furphy’.
“It started out as a little project, but became the iconic product of the business,” great, great grandson Adam Furphy and fifth generation business manager said.
