Brothers Frank and Carl Cardaci arrived in Western Australian in 1956 from a small town called Sinagra in the heart of the Sicilian countryside. Starting out in Kalgoorlie it was certainly a change of scenery for the brothers who didn’t speak any English.
In 1959, the brothers started aspiring for bigger things. This resulted in Frank and Carl, with Father Leone and Mother Angelina, moving to the family home in Mount Lawley to start the next phase of life.
The next phase of life had Frank running a deli and green grocery shop, doing all the maths in his head and learning people skills. Carl become a finance professional working in the finance and insurance sector.
An opportunity appeared for the brothers to purchase their first truck in 1968 and the CFC Group – originally named Cardaci Bros – started a journey that no one expected. Today, the business continues to flourish and deliver for its customers and the community. The journey has included plenty of growth along the way, and not without some harder times, all helping to establish a solid business with strong values.
Frank’s son Marc worked in the business and was an integral part of the regeneration of Centurion in the 1990’s. Frank’s son Philip is the current Executive Chairman of the CFC Group and has driven the business for the last three and half decades.
Carl’s son Justin has been the CEO of Centurion since 2015. The transport business continues to be a leader in the industry and operates right across Australia. Centurion Transport is now one of four key businesses within the CFC Group. The others include:
The following timeline shares the journey of acquisitions and growth from a transport business to the CFC Group – today, we’re a truly values-driven, investment group with a diverse portfolio of businesses with interests in transport and logistics, construction and agriculture equipment, mining and utilities services, and property development.
Centurion acquires Rockhampton based transport company Rocky’s Own and also ABC Transport who operate between Adelaide and Darwin.
Centurion acquires Western Australian transport companies Southwest Express and Great Southern Express.
CFC Group acquires 100% of Dunstans. Dunstans Forestry Transport became Centurion Forestry Transport and Dunstans horizontal directional drilling becomes part of the Cape business.
CEA acquires ELB Equipment to become leading distributor of DitchWitch and Komptech in Australia. As part of the acquisition CEA became the primary distributor of Diamond Z, Screenpod, TrackStack, Hammerhead and Subsite.
Centurion signs purchase agreement with K&S Corporation to acquire Regal’s WA General Haulage business.
CFC Group acquires a stake in Dunstans, a specialist contractor involved in horizontal directional drilling, ploughing and forestry haulage.
Centurion acquires Triton Transport Services and FuelTrans Goldfields/Metro Assets.
CEA acquires distribution rights to Atlas Copco and Dynapac throughout Australia.
Centurion opens premises in Mackay, Brisbane and Emerald.
Underground Services Australia and Cape Crushing & Earthmoving merge to become Cape, a provider of world class solutions to businesses operating in the resources, utilities and infrastructure sectors.
Centurion buys the heavy haulage trailing assets of McAleese Limited and expands nationally.
CFC Group acquires Redstar a specialist fixed-speed diesel equipment company providing generators, compressors, welders, lighting towers, distribution boards, parts & servicing to many of Australia’s largest mining, construction, industrial, rental and government organisations.
CFC Group completes the purchase of Cape Crushing and Earthmoving.
Acquisition of Oilfield and General Transport.
CFC Group purchases the remaining shares of Underground Services Australia.
New $40m purpose built freight terminal opened in Hazelmere, Perth.
CFC acquires Dan Cosgrove and Associates in New Zealand and takes on the distribution of Same Deutz Fahr in New Zealand and Australia.
CFC acquires Ezee-On Tillage Equipment Australia and re-brands to CEA Ag-equipment and takes on JCB agriculture distribution in Australia.
CFC Equipment acquires remaining shares in Construction Equipment Australia and drops the CFC Equipment brand.
Centurion acquires Brambles Northwest operations.
CFC Equipment establishes Adelaide operation and acquires shareholding in Construction Equipment Australia. CFC and CEA appointed as the JCB Distributor for Australia.
CFC Group acquires 50% shareholding in Underground Services Australia.
Cape Crushing is established.
Underground Services Australia is established, initially focusing on the installation of gas mains in built up areas.
Construction Equipment Australia Pty Ltd (CEA) is established.
CFC Equipment is established and begins trading in used equipment.
After picking up several transport contracts, the founders decided to incorporate Centurion Transport Co Pty Ltd.
Brothers Frank and Carl Cardaci commence a partnership in transport, purchasing a used truck with the aim of reselling.
CFC Group