Southern Cross Water

What Southern Cross Water does

Southern Cross Water Pty Ltd is a privately held Australian manufacturer of prefabricated modular steel water storage tanks, headquartered in Queensland and owned by the Griffith family, whose foundry origins in Toowoomba date to 1871. The Southern Cross brand has been continuous since 1903, with the company pioneering Australia's first circular bolted steel tank (Squatter, late 1960s) and the first Australian-made liner tank (TL Series, early 1980s).

The product range spans the YT Series (commercial and fire-protection tanks from 13 kL to over 10 ML), ST Series GRP square tanks for building services and HVAC, TL Series Liner Tanks (Homestead 26-146 kL and Jumbo 195-600 kL) for rural and agricultural potable storage, Squatter Tanks for non-potable bulk storage, galvanised steel tank stands up to 30 m, and a maintenance and inspection service line using ROVs. Core technology is bolt-together modular galvanised steel construction (BlueScope GALVABOND/ZINCALUME/COLORBOND) with food-grade polypropylene liners and proprietary hydraulic roof-down erection equipment that eliminates on-site welding. Compliance spans a broad set of Australian Standards (AS4100, AS1170, AS2118.1, AS2419.1, AS2304, AS3500, AS/NZS4680) and international fire codes (NFPA22, FM Global).

The company operates a dual go-to-market: direct-to-consumer and phone-based sales for residential and rural tank buyers, and field-sales project-based engagement for commercial, industrial, mining, and remote-community installations. Revenue comes from hardware unit sales (tanks and accessories), installation services by in-house erection crews, and recurring maintenance and reline services. Customer segments include commercial and industrial fire protection, rural and agricultural, mining and resources, municipal infrastructure, remote communities, and commercial building services, with marquee projects including 2 x 2.7 ML replacement tanks for Sunshine Coast Community Hospital and 3 x 5 ML potable tanks for Roxby Downs.

Name

Southern Cross Water

Legal name

Southern Cross Water Pty Ltd

Website

https://sxwater.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1871

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Southern Cross Water is a privately held Australian manufacturer of prefabricated modular bolted steel water tanks (YT, TL, Squatter, GRP series) serving commercial, fire-protection, mining, municipal, and rural agricultural customers across Australia with installation and maintenance services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Storage Tanks

NAICS

Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing (33242), Boiler, Tank, and Shipping Container Manufacturing (3324), Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (237110)

SIC

Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Storage & Delivery Infrastructure (Tanks, Reservoir Liners, Bladders) (AFABAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Pipes & Tubing (Metal, Plastic & Composite) (IMADALAC)

Keywords

• Modular steel water tanks
• Bolted water storage
• Fire protection tanks
• Rural water storage
• Industrial water tanks

Headquarters

HQ city

Murarrie, Queensland

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Water Tank Hardware Sales: Sale of prefabricated modular steel water tanks in various sizes and configurations including residential, rural, commercial, and industrial applications. Tanks sold as complete units with various accessories and customization options including color finishes.
2. Tank Installation Services: Professional installation services provided by highly qualified and experienced tank erection crews. Includes site preparation guidance, installation, and commissioning. Installation uses specialized hydraulic equipment.
3. Maintenance and Repair Services: Tank inspection, cleaning, repair, and reline services using unmanned remotely operated vehicles (ROV) for internal inspections. Tank cleaning and maintenance contracts in accordance with AS1851-2012 and AS3500 standards.
4. Tank Stands and Accessories: Sale of galvanised steel tank stands in various heights (1.5m to 30m) with decking, ladders, and handrails. Additional accessories including water level indicators, ladders, piping, connections, anti-vortex outlets, roof vents, tank bottoms, and manhole covers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Southern Cross Water designs, manufactures, and installs prefabricated modular bolted steel water storage tanks for rural, agricultural, commercial, industrial, mining, and municipal applications. The company produces round galvanised steel tanks (YT and TL Series), Squatter tanks, GRP square tanks, fire protection tanks, and galvanised tank stands, complemented by installation, inspection, and maintenance services.

Product overview

Southern Cross Water is a manufacturer of prefabricated modular steel water storage tanks and associated infrastructure, not a software platform. The product portfolio is organized around tank types differentiated by material, liner configuration, capacity, and application. The core range includes: YT Series (commercial/industrial round steel tanks) and ST Series GRP (square glass-reinforced plastic tanks) for commercial applications; TL Series Liner Tanks (Homestead and Jumbo ranges, 26–600 kL) and Squatter Tanks for rural/agricultural use; and YT Series Fire Tanks (13 kL–10 ML) for fire protection. Galvanised steel tank stands (accessories providing elevated storage) and tank inspection/maintenance services (using ROVs) complement the product range. All tanks use Australian-made BlueScope steel (GALVABOND, ZINCALUME, COLORBOND) and are bolted modular designs requiring no on-site welding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• YT Series Commercial Tanks
• ST Series GRP Tanks
• TL Series Liner Tanks (Homestead and Jumbo Range)
• Squatter Tanks
• YT Series Fire Protection Tanks
• Galvanised Steel Tank Stands
• Tank Inspection, Cleaning, Repair and Maintenance Services
• Tank Installation and Erection Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ year design life expectancy for all steel tank products
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aquamate Water Tanks: Australian manufacturer of bolted steel water tanks for rural, commercial and fire applications. Direct competitor with similar modular panel engineering, competing head-to-head in the Australian commercial and rural water storage market.
• Coerco: Australian manufacturer of poly water tanks, diesel and liquid transport tanks with rural and industrial distribution. Competes in the rural and remote water storage segment with cheaper poly alternatives to Southern Cross's steel Squatter and TL series.
• Rapid Plas: Australian-owned manufacturer of polyethylene rainwater tanks and troughs, one of the largest poly tank producers in the country. Competes with Southern Cross for residential and rural water storage, particularly in the sub-50kL segment where poly tanks dominate.
• National Poly Industries: Australian poly rainwater tank manufacturer with national distribution. Competes with Southern Cross in residential and rural tank categories, particularly for buyers prioritising price over durability or fire certification.
• Bushman Tanks: Australian manufacturer of poly and steel rainwater tanks serving rural and residential customers nationwide, with overlapping fire and commercial offerings. Competes directly with Southern Cross's TL and Squatter ranges for rural and light-commercial projects.
• Pioneer Water Tanks: Australia's largest bolted steel water tank manufacturer, with significant US operations. Pioneer offers nearly identical product lines (XL, Standard, Slimline series) to Southern Cross's YT/TL series, serving rural, commercial and fire protection customers. Direct head-to-head competitor in Australian rural and commercial tenders.

Broad incumbents

• CST Industries: Global leader in factory-coated bolted steel tanks (Aquastore, Harvestore) serving potable water, wastewater, mining and fire protection. Largest US-based competitor in commercial/municipal water storage with broader geographic reach than Southern Cross.
• Kingspan Water Tanks: Subsidiary of Irish-listed Kingspan Group, manufacturing Rhino and Modline steel water tanks in Australia. A larger, capital-backed incumbent serving the same residential, rural and commercial water storage segments with overlapping bolt-together steel tank technology.

Regional players

• Devan Tanks: New Zealand-based bolted steel water tank manufacturer serving the NZ and Pacific markets. Comparable in product and engineering approach, primarily competing in regional markets where Southern Cross has less established distribution.

Others

• Tankvision: Australian tank inspection, cleaning and maintenance provider serving both steel and poly tank owners. Comparable as a recurring-service player in the water tank maintenance ecosystem, where Southern Cross also offers ROV inspection and relining.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SouthernCrossWater
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southern-cross-water

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southern Cross Water