Family-owned brokerage Rivers Insurance is celebrating 40 years in business this month.

Queensland-based Rivers, which is an Austbrokers member, was started in 1981 by Don Tickle. He is still director of the business, which began with a small office in Brisbane’s Spring Hill with five staff and second-hand furniture and equipment.

Today, Rivers employs 35 across offices in Brisbane, Cairns and Innisfail.

“We are absolutely astonished how far we have come and the growth we have achieved,” Mr Tickle said. “We are proud that Rivers Insurance is an Australian owned family run business in an industry dominated by large international conglomerates,” he said.

“We genuinely care and never want our clients to feel alone as part of the insurance process. We strongly believe that if our clients do well than we will also do well.”

Rivers managed the insurance program for the construction of the Expo 88 site as well as major covers for operations such as international entertainment, and in recent years acquired Premier Insurance Brokers.