60 Years Of Driving The Region
With Filby’s Motors
Filby’s Motors, an iconic local family-owned Whitsunday business celebrates its 60th anniversary this October, this incredible milestone marking 60 years of providing vehicle sales and service to the entire Whitsundays region, along with supporting the community and commerce in the region.
As a respected leader in vehicle sales, repair and parts in the Whitsunday Region, Filby’s Motors offers a diversified range of services to the mining, horticulture, broadacre, tourism and domestic markets. Filby’s Motors is committed to attaining excellence in quality management via strong customer engagement, understanding their expectations and investing in our diverse workforce to ensure their competence in providing optimum service.
Established in 1964, Filby’s Motors growth is underlined by its 60 years of experience delivering integrated vehicle solutions to valued customers. Originating as a small family business, Filby’s has continued to evolve and expand over 60 years, now employing over 30 staff. Strong emphasis is placed on technical training, along with training staff to provide ultimate customer service, with Filby’s Motors achieving several accolades in recent years for sales, branding and technician achievements across the multiple franchise brands offered.
Filby’s Motors was established by Robert (Bob) Filby Snr and his wife, Thelma, in 1964 when Toyota approached the entrepreneurs who had been running five local rural and transportation businesses in Main St, Proserpine. These included Shell Agency, John Deere Tractors, Chesney Caravans and CIG Franchise (now trading under the name of R.H.H.) and T.A. Filby together with Filby’s’ Coaches.
After 10 years the car dealership became so popular that they sold off the other enterprises – placing their focus solely on Filby’s Motors.
In 1978, the couple’s eldest son, Robert, joined the business with his wife Sue, and in 1984, their youngest son Brian was next to join the ranks. Subsequent years saw the business continue to grow, taking on additional franchises – Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Mahindra, along with a second dealership site in Bowen on 15th Dec 1997, and workshops designed to service and repair these vehicles.
Over recent years, a new generation of the Filby family have continued their family’s passion, with Joshua and Hayden Filby (Brian’s children) undertaking technician apprenticeships at the dealerships, and Rebecca, Melissa, Matthew and Blake (Robert and Sue’s children) continuing to modernise and consolidate management processes to ensure continued longevity of their family legacy.
As part of the Bowen and Proserpine communities, the Filby family, and the Filby’s Motors dealerships has weathered the unpredictable landscape of operating in North Queensland. From financial hardships caused by prices of coal, cane or tomatoes to inclement weather events and cyclones, and the destruction of the local horticulture and tourism industry this threatened.
Each time the communities work together to repair and restore, and Filby’s Motors is proud to be a part of the entire Whitsunday community – sponsoring and actively participating in community events, school projects, sporting groups and fundraisers.
Contributing to the local community is an opportunity for Filby’s to share the loyalty shown to them, and to ensure community pride and ownership within the region. Recent sponsorship projects include the WRC Mayoral Ball, National Tree Day, local sporting teams and events, Whitsunday Catchment Landcare, school projects, local historical preservations groups, Bowen Men’s Shed, CQ Rescue, Bowen Turf Club and Paul Bowman Challenge along with 26 years as sponsor of the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys.
Filby’s Motors thanks the community of the Whitsundays for its ongoing support – and they look forward to continuing to provide you with sales, service and parts excellence for many decades to come!
