N° 006 — Our story

Three cars in Whyalla,
sixty years
of moving people.

Founded in 1963 by brothers Des and Trevor Brougham, the Des’s Group began as a three-car taxi company in Whyalla. Three generations of the family later, we’re still here — still family-run, still local.

Established: 1963
Staff & bailees: 300+
Generations: 3

Uncle Des standing proudly in front of the early Des's Cabs fleet in Whyalla

Uncle Des — front of the early fleet

§ 01 — From the archive

The fleet that started it all.

A row of cream Des's taxis lined up in Whyalla in the 1970s — Des's fleet in the '70s

Black and white photo of an early Des's taxi sedan with roof sign — One of the first sedans in the fleet

Des Brougham in a suit standing beside two early Des's taxis — Uncle Des, Whyalla

§ 02 — The Des’s story

A family business, in its own words.

1963
Three cars, one town
Brothers Des and Trevor Brougham start a three-car taxi company in Whyalla, driving part time through the sixties.
1974
A family carries on
Trevor is lost in a plane crash. His eldest son Chris, just 20, steps up as managing director while looking after the family.
1980s–2000s
Beyond the cab rank
The group grows across regional South Australia — minibuses, coaches, transport and self-drive hire join the cabs.
2023
Vale Uncle Des
Des passes at the age of 90. We're sure he still watches the progress of the business with pride.
Today
300 strong
Three generations of the Brougham family and 300 staff and bailees across the Des's Group companies.