About Us

Our Story

Claude Cater Mensland has proudly served Mareeba and Far North Queensland since 1963. Founded by Claude and Pam Cater, the business began with a simple goal: to provide quality menswear and genuine service to local customers. Over the decades, it has grown into a trusted family business known for workwear, western wear, uniforms, boots, hats and everyday essentials, while staying true to the values it was built on.

From the early days, the business earned loyalty through hard work, personal service and strong local relationships. Claude and Pam worked long hours to build the store, often taking stock home at night to check and price it, and going the extra mile for station customers who travelled into town. That same commitment to looking after people still shapes the business today.

Now carried on by the Cater family across generations, Claude Cater Mensland continues to serve Mareeba, Far North Queensland and regional customers with a focus on trusted brands, practical style and good old-fashioned service.

Our History

1963
Claude and Pam Cater opened their first store in Mareeba with $6,000 and a mission to provide quality menswear to locals. The original store was at 188 Byrnes Street, now the site of My Mareeba Dentist.

1960s
In the early years, Claude and Pam built the business through strong community connections and long hours of hands-on work. They did much of the stock handling themselves, often taking products home at night to check, price and prepare for the next day.

Early 1970s
After 10 years of running the business themselves, the store had grown enough to expand. As the workload increased, Claude and Pam employed their first staff member, Cathy Bolen, marking an important milestone in the business's growth.

1983
The business moved to 199 Byrnes Street, Mareeba, where Claude Cater Mensland remains today. This move created the foundation for the next stage of growth.

1986
Three years after relocating, the business joined the Mensland group, opening up new opportunities to grow and learn more about the retail industry.

1980s–1990s
Claude Cater Mensland became known not only for menswear, but also for supplying uniforms for local sporting clubs, high schools and businesses. This local support became an important part of the store's success and reflected its "locals supporting locals" approach.

1995
Claude opened a separate workwear store in the shop next door after recognising that Mareeba needed a dedicated workwear store and wanting to better compete with workwear retailers in Cairns. The store attracted a broad customer base, from corporate workers to labourers.

2001
Claude sadly passed away in 2001, leaving behind the successful business in the hands of his sons, Raymond and Robert continued his legacy of good old-fashioned service.

2003
Raymond and Robert created a walkway between the main store and the separate workwear shop, knocking down a wall to turn the two shops into one larger store. This was a major turning point in the way the business operated and helped support further growth.

2000s onward
The next generation continued to expand the range and evolve with changing customer needs. In workwear, the business adapted from a smaller range of traditional basics to a much broader mix of brands and styles, while still keeping classic fits and practical products for long-time customers.

Across the decades
Western wear remained a consistent part of the business, supported by strong relationships with station customers across the Gulf, Cape and west. Over time, the customer base became generational, with families continuing to shop at Claude Cater Mensland across multiple generations.

2023
Claude Cater Mensland celebrated 60 years in business, marking six decades of serving Mareeba, Far North Queensland and the wider regional community.

Today
Today, Claude Cater Mensland continues to serve locals, workers, families and regional customers with trusted brands, genuine advice and a strong connection to the community.