Protecting Aussies for over three generations from all kinds of biting bugs has been quite the journey for a brand that originated in a QLD swamp.
RID HISTORY
FOUNDER DOUGLAS THORLEY WAS HUMBLY AMBITIOUS, WITH A CLEAR MISSION SET WAY BACK IN 1956,
BRAND ORIGINS
“I want an insect repellent that’s pleasant to wear, soothing to the skin and medicated for existing bites”.
Staying true to this mission is why RID continues to be one of the most enduring and resilient insect repellents in Australia today.
His dogged perseverance, natural talent and dash of mad genius created a superior insect repellent that protected everyday Aussies doing their everyday things.
From these humble beginnings it became a part of the fabric of who we are… and it all began in a Queensland swamp.
A true David and Goliath story that proves the theory, you will get BIG because you’re good not good because you’re big.
RID TIMELINE
The Thorley Family developed the ‘RID’ brand in 1945. The company was incorporated by Mr Hectory Douglas Thorley, producing broad spectrum high quality family and home protection products. ‘Thorley’ was originally named Thorleys Pest RID Company.
PEST RID WAS FORMED
1945
It was a combination of hours of field research and development, plus testing in Queenslands’ tropical wetlands that contributed to Mr. HD Douglas Thorley successfully introducing the now famous Medicated First-Aid RID Insect Repellent onto the Australian market in 1956.
RID LAUNCH OF AUSTRALIA’S FIRST PERSONAL INSECT REPELLENT
1956
After 2 years, RID‘s packaging changed to 4 1/4 oz plastic bottles, the same shape and slightly different design remained up to 2014.
NEW PACKING
1958
INTRODUING THE INNOVATIVE NEW AEROSOL PACK
1964
LAUNCH OF THE HEAVY DUTY RID® RANGE – TROPICAL STRENGTH
1997
Also in this year the Personal pack options were standardised with roll-on, aerosol and pump spray packs.
RID® INTRODUCES THE INNOVATIVE COMBINATION FORMULA RID SPF30+ SUNBLOCK WITH REPELLENT
1998
The LAUNCH OF RID’S LOW IRRITANT RANGE
2011
RID AUSTRALIA PURCHASES THE ICONIC RID® BRAND
2013
CONSUMER WATCHDOG BODIES IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND NOMINATED RID®
2013
RID® Medicated Plus range nominated as the most effective mosquito repellent for summer by Australian and New Zealand consumer watchdogs.
BRAND AND PRODUCT PACKAGING REFRESH
2014
Bringing the brand values of RID® and its Australian heritage into the next century.
LAUNCH OF NEW AND IMPROVED SUNSCREEN SPF50+ LOTION WITH REPELLENT TO THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET
2016
LAUNCH OF RID’S NEW HEAVY DUTY PACK ‘WORKFORCE STRENGTH’
2016
Designed to meet tough working environments with effective tropical strength formulation.
LAUNCH OF RID’S NEW OUTDOOR MOSQUITO COILS RANGE TO THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET
2016
RID® BECOMES AN OFFICIAL LICENSEE FOR AUSTRALIAN MADE & OWNED CERTIFICATION FOR RID® MEDICATED PERSONAL INSECT REPELLENT AND SUNSCREEN COMBO
2017
LAUNCH OF RID AUSTRALI’S TERMINATOR BRAND WITH A RANGE DESIGNED TO KILL AND CONTROL FLYING AND CRAWLING INSECTS
2017
The Thorley family were responsible for the development of the ‘Rid’ brand since its inception in 1945.
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
“Thorley” was originally named Thorleys Pest RID Company.
The company was incorporated by Mr Hector Douglas Thorley, producing broad spectrum high-quality family and home protection products. “Thorley” was originally named Thorleys Pest RID Company. They performed Pest & Weed control Services in Northern NSW immediately following the 2nd World War.
It was always the aim of the founder, Mr HD Thorley, to manufacture pesticide & other products as soon as chemicals were available after the war. In the interim he joined the National Pest Control Association of America, the NSW Government Pest Association together with the QLD Pest Control Association, to gain important knowledge for this Industry. At one of several meetings of the QLD Pest Control Association, he noted that a government authority named Dr Brindlecomb lectured on various matters including insect repellents that lasted for several hours under the tropical warfare conditions, in which DEET was the active ingredient.
Doug Thorley was determined to market to the domestic consumer after the war and as soon as containers and packaging were available.
It was used by American Armed Forces to repel mosquitoes for many hours at a time in substitution for the commonly used Dimyth Phalate which only lasts for approximately one hour or less. It was noted that DEET was extremely effective as an insect repellent in controlled amounts. Doug Thorley was determined to market to the domestic consumer after the war and as soon as containers and packaging were available.
In the meantime, he began to experiment and formulate the active ingredients. It was a combination of hours of field research and development, plus testing in Queensland’s tropical wetlands that contributed to Mr HD Douglas Thorley successfully introducing the now famous Medicated First-Aid RID Insect Repellents onto the Australian market in 1956.
RID was Australias’ first and only DEET-based personal insect repellent and is the only exclusive skin-friendly multi-purpose insect repellent. Thorleys geared to manufacture insect repellents- in acceptable unisex perfume DEET-based cream which they named RID.
RID was Australias’ first and only DEET-based personal insect repellent and is the only exclusive skin-friendly multi-purpose insect repellent.
In 1956 it was marketed in 1 1/4 oz glass bottles. From inception, RID ‘s reputation as a very effective Personal Insect Repellent for public use was self-evident. It is highly effective in tropical environments where mosquito-borne diseases (Malaria, Dengue, West Nile Fever, Ross River virus) are a serious health concern.
RID may be best classified as a medicated insect repellent as claims such as “medicated” and “first aid” and “antiseptic” appear on its packaging. In order to obtain registration of therapeutic goods in Australia, stringent criteria must be met prior to gaining registration.
RID is endorsed by both APVMA (Australian Pesticide Veterinary Medicinal Association) and TGA (Therapeutic Goods Association). It is the only brand to receive medical endorsements from hospitals, medicinal and overseas travel organisations. RID’s approved by all State Health Departments, Medical Boards and Travel Authorities.
It is the only brand to receive medical endorsements from hospitals, medicinal and overseas travel organisations.
RID is now under a wholly owned Australian entity, RID Australia who purchased the iconic RID® brand from Thorley Laboratories in May 2013. Our values at RID Australia reflect the same true sense of that passion, perseverance and determination to continue the success of RID.
Today RID Australia headquarters is in Brisbane. It’s from here that we co-ordinate the manufacturer and distribution of the RID® brand of consumer products for personal and home use.