About Van Schaik's Bio Gro
From humble beginnings...
Established for over 40 years, Van Schaik's Bio Gro has its origins in Mount Gambier, South Australia - in the heart of the Green Triangle region.
In the mid 1960's Company founder Hans Van Schaik was running a small earthmoving business and as a hobby he developed an interest in peats and soils. As the business progressed Hans' attention was drawn to the large volumes of waste organic materials which remained after harvest and processing by the forest industry. Hans noticed in particular that bark, sawdust and timber offcuts were often dumped, windrowed or burned; and he set about to find a use for this resource. He began experimenting with composting of these materials for use as garden mulches and soils, quite literally, in his own backyard!!
The business slowly developed and Hans' composted barks and mulches found their way into landscape yards in Adelaide and Melbourne. As time went on the company began to diversify and it gained a solid reputation for handling local industry organic waste. Hans' sons, Stephen and Anthony added their skills to the business; and new staff members joined the team as the company continued to grow.
By the early 1990's the business was focusing on composted soils, soil conditioners, mulches and landscape barks. It was producing a range of packaged potting mixes and barks under the company's AusGro banner, and also contract packaging for other leading horticultural suppliers.
Expansion continued in 1995 with a move to larger premises in Mount Gambier; and the Bio Gro range of products was introduced. At the same time the Company purchased a 42 hectare site at Wandilo (15km north of Mount Gambier) which became its EPA-licensed organics receival and composting facility.
In 2003, in response to its need for a greater profile in the Melbourne region, the company purchased the former Propine business in Bayswater North. This has now become our national sales centre and Victorian distribution headquarters.
...to now
We've come a long way from our beginnings as a one-man operation. Van Schaik's Bio Gro now employs over 100 staff across our three sites - and we're still very much a family business. Hans Van Schaik continues at the helm as CEO. Stephen Van Schaik is now the Managing Director of our South Australian operations (incorporation our Composting and Production areas); and Anthony Van Schaik is the Managing Director of our Victorian base (incorporating our Sales and Marketing division).
Our Company is justifiably proud of our high quality environmentally friendly horticultural and landscape products and we know you will agree.
