Roma Wire and Steel is a leading independent supplier of a wide range of steel products to rural and regional Queensland. Owner, Natalie Dingle, highlights the family-owned company’s exemplary local knowledge and customer service.
FORGED IN ROMA
Nestled in the heart of the Maranoa region of South West Queensland (QLD), Roma is where ‘Country meets the Outback’.
The thriving town, surrounded by sweeping plains and boundless skies, offers a taste of the Outback – along with the charm and character of country life.
“We love Roma – the town has been very good to us,” highlights Natalie Dingle, Owner of Natalie Dingle, Owner, Roma Wire and Steel (RWS).
RWS is a proud local business, family-owned by Natalie, together with her husband, Jamie Dingle. The couple have lived in Roma for 34 years and Jamie has been in the steel game for more than three decades.
Jamie knows a lot of people in the region and further afield, and has vast knowledge of the steel industry and its products.
“We also own and operate a cattle business, so we know what rural people want – Jamie is happy to offer advice on shed building, cattle yards, and fencing,” Natalie tells us.
“A large percentage of our customers are rural – alongside selling steel, we manufacture cattle handling equipment such as cattle ramps, slide gates, and gates in frames, all built to suit customers’ requirements.”
The company’s main customer base is the Maranoa region, but also extends into Western and South West Queensland, New South Wales, and the Northern Territory.
RWS maintains satisfied customers in these areas by continually meeting their expectations of excellence in the supply of steel products, focusing on their needs, and aiming to please.
“We pride ourselves on our customer service – if we have to load trucks on weekends, early mornings, or at night, we do. We have even had to load on Boxing Day,” shares Natalie.
“We offer an all day and weekend delivery service across the area. If we are heading in your direction in our ute or truck, we will deliver steel to you at any time – we go out of our way to make sure you receive our products.
“The people out here are more than just customers – many are our friends too,” she smiles.
“We love Roma – the town has been very good to us”
Natalie Dingle, Owner, Roma Wire and Steel
STEEL FOR ALL
RWS’s main steel products are new and downgrade rectangular hollow sections, pipes, flats, fencing materials, reinforcing, structural and building materials, and roofing.
“From fencing and reinforcing mesh to beams and roofing, we offer an efficient and personalised service every time,” Natalie outlines.
“Our steel products satisfy all areas of industry, including gas, rural, building, manufacturing, and home handymen.
“We supply a lot of grids to all industries – both main roads and paddock grids. Our grids are certified and made with wider, thicker material,” she adds.
“We have our own cattle operation in the Injune/Bymount area, so we understand the importance of having good quality, strong, well-designed rural equipment that is safe and efficient for all our customers.”
The company has a major focus on the rural and gas industries, in particular; the former has been RWS’s longest supporter, whilst the latter has brought diversification to the business.
“The gas industry has helped make our business the success it is today. We have been here since the beginning of the coal seam gas industry in Roma and have continued to supply it,” Natalie acknowledges.
To service the gas industry, RWS has ramped up its stock, manufacturing, deliveries, and staff over the years.
“We go out of our way to provide the best service to the industry – as we do with all our customers,” she affirms.
“The gas industry has been both supportive of, and beneficial to, our business. It has also been a huge positive for Roma and the surrounding towns. It has helped a lot of the smaller towns survive.”
One of RWS’s biggest customers is Wild Desert, one of Australia’s leading providers of well servicing rigs, transport operations, and mobile camps to the oil and gas industry.
RWS strives to have a large range of steel products on hand – it also understands that time matters and can therefore quickly source whatever materials are required.
It is also not committed to one supplier, instead sourcing steel at the right price, thus allowing better prices for the end user.
“We offer both Australian-made and imported products and focus on always having stock available for people’s needs,” assures Natalie.
“The gas industry has been both supportive of, and beneficial to, our business. It has also been a huge positive for Roma and the surrounding towns”
Natalie Dingle, Owner, Roma Wire and Steel
TWO DECADES OF RWS
RWS celebrates its milestone 20th anniversary on 7th April this year, having started from humble beginnings – a run-down and neglected yard, owned by a company in Brisbane, with very little steel.
Slowly but surely, Natalie and Jamie built up the business, which has since gone on to enjoy extensive growth.
“We gravelled the yard, made steel racks, purchased steel, began fabricating, and started a delivery service – we practically lived here day and night for the first five years,” Natalie reveals.
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“We always jokingly say our three boys were raised kicking footballs over the steel racks!”
The company built a new office in 2017, purchased next door in 2024, and has extended the yards to bigger and better things.
It has been proudly involved in some substantial projects throughout the course of its 20-year history, including cattle yards, feedlots, sheds, large exclusion fencing projects and, more recently, new footpaths in Roma.
Additionally, RWS is heavily involved with the Department of Primary Industries’ wild dog barrier fence, which is about 2,500 kilometres long and protects 26.5 million hectares of sheep and cattle grazing country.
RWS has also been involved in steel supply for the upgrade of Roma Saleyards, the largest cattle-selling facility in Australia.
Alongside RWS, Natalie and Jamie also own a business in Emerald, QLD, called Emerald Steel, which has been established for 19 years.
LONG-TERM STAFF
Many of RWS’s nine staff members have witnessed its growth journey, including Greg Harris, the main salesman, who has been with the company for 13 years.
Maryann Graham, who works in admin, has spent 15 years at RWS, whilst two of Natalie and Jamie’s three sons have worked for them for the last three years.
“We have some very experienced long-term staff with strong local knowledge,” acclaims Natalie.
“RWS has gone ahead in leaps and bounds – we have knowledge of the industry and the region.”
One of the company’s main priorities is to look after its hardworking staff, along with continuing to provide top-class service to clients and maintaining its reputation across the region.
It is also committed to providing the right products to customers at the right price, continuing as an independent, family-owned company, and involving their three sons more in the business.
RWS will also continue to be major supporters and sponsors of local events and the communities that support it.
“I’m involved with several local committees, including Roma’s famous Sculptures Out Back,” Natalie closes.
