A RICH HISTORY
L. Wilson & Co. was established in 1946 by Leslie Wilson, starting as a small manufacturing business that made swivels on the kitchen table of the family home.
Recognising a need for rod building components, and being a fitter and turner by trade, Les began producing ferrules, reel seats and guides for Butterworth rods.
During this period between the late 1950s and late 1960s, L. Wilson & Co. were the largest manufacturer of rod building components in Australia and were one of Australia’s largest buyers of brass tubing. It was also during this period that Les developed the much-copied rolled ferrule, a ferrule design that had a rolled lip to allow easier insertion of the male portion of the ferrule.
ON THE MOVE
As Wilsons grew, they changed premises. From their family home in East Brisbane, they moved to the Manilla Street operation in 1972. They relocated to their current premises in Tingalpa in 1992, expanding into the building next door in 2000.
During the developmental years Wilsons became a very well known industry name. Even while they were manufacturing most of the fishing rod components for Butterworth, as well as most other rod makers, the people at Wilsons were out there doing the hard yards that have seen the company develop into a massive business.
Starting as a metal component manufacturer has allowed Wilson to continue to produce their own range of gaffs, landing nets, bait pumps, rod holders and more. This in-house manufacturing ensures that the Wilson metal products are of the best quality and the company’s quality control is second to none.
Wilson Fishing draws on over 80 years of expertise to enhance every Australian angling adventure with a massive range of gear tailored for everything from quiet creeks to the deep blue, ensuring that every angler is equipped with the local knowledge and premium tackle required for success.