With direct origins dating back to the 1950's, the Owens Group of Companies now operating under the Owens brand, has grown and developed through the combination of foresight, entrepreneurial talent and innovation of its founder Sir Robert Owens and subsequent high calibre professionals who continue to contribute to the company as it expands.

In July 2003 Mainfreight Limited, having acquired 15% of Owens Group Limited earlier in the year made a bid for all of the shares of the company. In October 2003 Mainfreight Limited exercised its rights under the offer and assumed ownership of 80% of the company. In July 2005 Mainfreight Limited acquired the balance of Owens Group Limited shares, making the Company a fully owned subsidiary of Mainfreight Limited.

1950's
In 1953, a few years after arriving in New Zealand from England, Sir Robert Owens started a shipping and stevedoring agency at the Port of Mt Maunganui (now the Port of Tauranga) with just one employee and a capital of 140 Pounds. By 1958 they had a major contract loading logs for Japan. Initiatives over the years contributed enormously to New Zealand forest product exports.

1960's
Initial wide spread involvement with transport and shipping broadened in 1968 with the formation of a ships agency company initially to act for Mitsui O.S.K. Lines of Japan.

1970's
Each year saw further development of the group's transportation interests and in 1971 Owens initiated a move to take over the Union Steam Ship Company subsequently becoming the major New Zealand shareholder.

In 1975 Owens Group Limited backed the then developing transport operator, Mogal Corporation Limited, ultimately acquiring full control. Those original Mogal companies today form a major part of Owens Group Limited.

Mogal Corporation Limited itself had an impressive history. Formed in 1967 by a consortium of independent road transport companies in response to the introduction of container traffic to New Zealand, Mogal operated domestic freight forwarding services utilising roll-on/roll-off shipping the first two years. In 1969 Trans Tasman trade started with Mogal operating as a cargo consolidator for the Union Steam Ship Company services. Mogal also pioneered non-conference shipping services to New Zealand that today operates worldwide as Owens International Freight.

A significant development of Mogal was the takeover of Brambles Burnett Limited in the mid 1980's, a publicly listed company two-thirds larger than Mogal. With the acquisition of Brambles, company history dates back to the early 1900's and encompassed Spencer & Dunkley Limited, Gain Forwarding Limited, Burnett Transport Limited and New Zealand Freighters Limited.

1980's
In 1980 the Owens trucking network included over 200 heavy transport vehicles a broad range of specialised heavy haulage, bulk transport and lifting equipment.

Owens Group Limited has always been a pioneer in transportation and logistics. Initiatives have ranged from innovative storage techniques and radical streamlined methods of materials handling through to obtaining, in joint venture, the US$21 million contract for transportation and positioning of the heavy modules to build New Zealand gas to gasoline plant. During construction, this was the world's largest project of its kind and included moving individual modules weighing up to 650 tonnes, 25 kilometres from the wharf end through the city of New Plymouth to the project site.

In 1985 Owens Group Limited listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange and ran as an investment company until the end of 1986. At that time Mogal, Viko Holdings and Owens Investments merged forming the nucleus of the present company Owens Group Limited.

Early in 1987 came a "back to basics" focus and numerous non-core investments were divested. Whilst many companies followed with a back to basics philosophy, Owens Group Limited's early recognition of the need to restructure before the sharemarket crash earlier that year enable the group to weather those turbulent times. It was during this period that Rodger Fisher, an Owens employee since the mid 1970's became Managing Director of the restructured Group.

Further growth and acquisition followed including the takeover of Universal Transport and McArthur Shipping in Australia. This formed the basis for building the company's Australian expansion plan.

1990's
In 1991 Owens looked to establish a network of container storage and servicing facilities in Australia to mirror those already in New Zealand. A Melbourne container storage and repair facility was opened in 1993 followed by a Brisbane operation in 1994 and a Sydney operation in 1995.

Transport operations started when Owens Metro was set up from the purchase, in 1992, of a small courier business. The livery of Owens Road Transport was introduced to Australia when NSW operator ASG Transport Pty was purchased in 1993. In addition to wharf cartage business, Owens also developed an interstate bulk liquid carriage service, south fleet management contracts and operated a warehousing and distribution service in conjunction with Owens International Freight.

2000
Groundwork was started in 2000 to set the stage for a further period of growth through acquisition. Shared Services, a financial management servicing providing fully integrated financial systems and back office processing utilising a JD Edwards fit for purpose package was adopted.

Revitalising the brand to Owens Global Logistics represented the new business approach Owens was adopting, from multiple operation centres and contracts to the delivery of seamless supply chain solutions.

Contract Warehousing facilities in New Zealand were established through the acquisition of Crossocean Forwarding Services to complete the full logistics offer. Rural cartage in the South Island of New Zealand was expanded when the Kurow based livestock and rural division of Waitaki Transport was purchased.

Acquisition of Pitstop Refrigeration in Adelaide, a business operating in the refrigerated road transport and service industry, improved efficiencies of container repair and servicing by reducing seasonal impacts.

2004
Following the majority acquisition by Mainfreight in 2003, a programme of divestment  occurred where the container services, ships agency and refrigerated seafreight businesses in New Zealand along with the freight forwarding and container businesses in Australia were sold.

Our core businesses of transport, warehousing and freight forwarding remain in New Zealand and transport remains in Australia.

Owens acquired AFS Projects & Logistics in Brisbane, AFL Freight Management and Pacific Containers Lines of Papua New Guinea and customs brokers Wyatt Soames of Sydney. In addition to these Owens doubled its chilled product capacity in Los Angeles serving this important airport hub. The company has secured a fit for purpose chilled product facility that will enable it to generate significantly more business in the high growth area.

2005

Mainfreight Limited acquired the remaining shares and the company was delisted from the New Zealand Stock Exchange in July 2005.