20 Years of Outdoor Cooking: How BBQ Spit Rotisseries Became Australia's Most Trusted BBQ Specialist

In May 2006, BBQ Spit Rotisseries opened its doors in Melbourne with a simple idea: Australians deserved a proper specialist for outdoor cooking.

Not just a few BBQs tucked away in the back corner of a hardware store. Not a general retail chain trying to be everything to everyone. A real outdoor cooking specialist that understood spit rotisseries, charcoal, smokers, fire, flavour and the way Aussies actually love to cook.

Twenty years later, that idea has grown into Australia’s largest independent BBQ store and one of the country’s most trusted names in outdoor cooking. We’ve helped thousands of customers across every state and territory fire up their backyards, cater events, feed families and create memories around the flame.

From spit rotisseries and smokers to pizza ovens, fire pits, kamado grills, rubs, sauces and accessories, BBQ Spit Rotisseries has come a long way. But the mission has stayed the same: to connect people and communities by creating great memories over cooking with fire.

Here’s how it happened, and where we’re headed next.

Where It All Started

Australians have always loved cooking outdoors, but when it came to proper spit roasting and charcoal cooking equipment, there weren’t many places that truly specialised in it. You could find a basic BBQ in plenty of stores, but finding the right spit rotisserie, the right motor, the right charcoal setup, or someone who could actually explain what you needed was another story.

So, we decided to build that place ourselves.

The early days were simple. A warehouse, a small range of products, a lot of hard work and customers who were just as passionate about outdoor cooking as we were. Spit rotisseries were the heart of the business because they made sense for Australian backyards. Whole lambs, pork, chickens, gyros, family gatherings, birthdays, Easter, Christmas and community events. It was a style of cooking that brought people together.

From the start, we didn’t want to be a general retailer. We wanted to be outdoor cooking specialists. That meant learning the products properly, listening to customers, solving real problems and stocking gear that could actually handle Aussie conditions.

We also made the decision to focus online and warehouse-direct instead of opening a chain of stores. That gave us more control, better pricing and the ability to ship outdoor cooking equipment across Australia without the overheads of traditional retail.

It wasn’t always easy. There were freight challenges, stock challenges, product development lessons and plenty of long days. But every challenge taught us something. And every customer helped shape what BBQ Spit Rotisseries would become.

Building A Range Australians Actually Want

When BBQ Spit Rotisseries first started, spit rotisseries were the core of the range. That was our foundation, and it still plays a huge part in who we are today.

But over 20 years, the way Australians cook outdoors has changed. Customers started asking for more than spits. They wanted smokers for low and slow brisket. Pizza ovens for Friday nights with the family. Fire pits for winter entertaining. Kamado grills for charcoal versatility. Rubs, sauces, charcoal, knives, baskets, covers and all the gear that makes a proper cook-up easier.

So, the range grew.

Not by chasing every trend, but by listening to what our customers actually want. If enough people asked for a better way to cook, smoke, roast, sear or entertain, we took notice.

That’s also what led to the development of our own brands, including Flaming Coals and Auspit. These brands were built from real customer feedback and real backyard experience. We saw what worked, what didn’t, what customers were frustrated by and where better gear was needed.

Flaming Coals grew into a trusted name for spit rotisseries, charcoal cooking gear, rubs, sauces and accessories. Auspit became a go-to for campers and outdoor cooks who wanted portable, reliable cooking equipment built for the bush, beach and backyard.

We’ve also brought in specialist third-party brands like Kosmos Q and other outdoor cooking names that match our standards. The philosophy has always been simple: depth over breadth, quality over volume.

We’d rather stock a carefully chosen range we understand properly than fill the website with thousands of products we can’t stand behind.

Today, the BBQ Spit Rotisseries range looks very different from where it started. But the goal is still the same. Help customers find the right gear for the way they want to cook.

Why We’ve Always Been Warehouse Direct

One of the biggest differences at BBQ Spit Rotisseries is that we’re warehouse direct.

That means we hold our own stock, control our own dispatch, manage our own product knowledge and work closely with the gear we sell. We’re not just sending an order to a third party and hoping for the best.

For customers, that matters.

It means faster shipping. Better pricing. Better stock control. Better support. And most importantly, advice from people who actually know the products.

When someone calls and asks what size spit they need for a whole lamb, or whether a smoker will suit their backyard, or which charcoal setup is best for their cook, they’re not speaking to someone reading off a generic product page. They’re speaking to a team that deals with this gear every day.

That’s a major point of difference compared to dropship models or generalist retailers. With some retailers, the product may never pass through their hands. They may not know how it’s packed, how it cooks, what accessories suit it or what customers commonly ask after buying it.

We believe customers deserve better than that.

Our Seaford warehouse and showroom is the heart of the business today. It’s where stock comes in, orders go out, customers come to see products in person and our team gets hands-on with the gear. We're located at 59 Brunel Road, Seaford, Vic.

And we’re not stopping there. As BBQ Spit Rotisseries continues to grow, we’re looking at expanding fulfilment into Queensland and New South Wales to make delivery faster and easier for more Australians.

Warehouse direct has always been about one thing: giving customers better value and better service.

Easy, Fast And Reliable From Day One

As the business has grown, we’ve always tried to keep things simple for our customers.

That comes back to three words we live by every day: easy, fast and reliable.

Easy means helping customers make the right choice without feeling overwhelmed. Our website is built to give clear product information, accurate pricing, helpful listings and plenty of content to guide people through the buying process. Whether someone is choosing their first spit rotisserie or comparing smokers, we want the experience to feel simple and stress-free.

Fast means understanding that when someone orders BBQ gear, they usually want it quickly. Whether it’s for a weekend cook-up, a birthday, a catering job or a family event, timing matters. That’s why we dispatch 95% of orders on the same day we receive them and offer priority processing and express post options both online and in-store.

Reliable means standing behind what we sell. We focus on quality products, strong warranties, a 60-day return policy and proper support when customers need help. Our team is contactable by phone between 7 am and 8 pm, 6 days a week, and we aim to respond quickly through email, online chat and social media.

Because great service doesn’t stop when the order leaves the warehouse.

For us, being reliable also means having real people who understand outdoor cooking. People who can answer questions, help troubleshoot, recommend the right accessory and guide customers through the next step.

That’s how trust is built over 20 years. Not with flashy promises, but by showing up again and again.

The Customers Who Made It Possible

No business lasts 20 years without loyal customers.

And we know we wouldn’t be here without the backyard cooks, pitmasters, caterers, event companies, sporting clubs, families and first-time BBQers who have supported us along the way.

Some customers come to us for their very first spit rotisserie. Others are serious outdoor cooks building full backyard kitchens. Some are cooking for 10 mates on a Saturday. Others are feeding hundreds at weddings, fundraisers, footy clubs or community events.

We’ve had customers come back year after year. They upgrade their spit. Add a smoker. Grab a pizza oven. Buy accessories. Send their mates in. Bring their kids to the showroom. Over time, those small moments become real relationships.

This is the story about our very first customer.

An older gentleman came into the store and said, “I want the best quality spit you’ve got.”

He ended up choosing a Flaming Coals Deluxe Cyprus Spit Roaster. But what he told us next is what really stayed with us. He wasn’t just buying a BBQ. He was buying something he could use to cook with his family. Something that would bring everyone together. Something he could one day pass down to his son, so that when he was no longer here, his son could remember him every time he fired it up.

That moment summed up why we do what we do.

We’re not just helping people cook food. We’re helping families create memories that last well beyond the meal itself.

That’s what outdoor cooking is really about. A whole lamb at Easter. A pig on the spit for a birthday. Brisket on for Sunday lunch. Wood-fired pizzas with the kids. Friends standing around the fire pit. The smell of charcoal in the air.

Our customers have taught us that great BBQ gear is never just about the gear. It’s about what it makes possible.

Giving Back To The BBQ Community

BBQ Spit Rotisseries has always been about more than selling outdoor cooking gear.

We believe in giving back to the BBQ community that has supported us for the last 20 years. That means creating opportunities for people to learn, connect, share and enjoy cooking over fire together.

Over the years, we’ve done this through product demonstrations, live events, informal get-togethers, BBQ masterclasses, live Q&A sessions and educational content designed to help customers become more confident outdoor cooks.

We’ve also built a strong online BBQ community where people can share cooking photos, tips, recipes, wins, questions and ideas. That community spirit matters to us because BBQ has always been social. It’s not just about the food on the plate. It’s about the people standing around the fire.

Giving back also means supporting causes and organisations that matter.

We’ve supported local not-for-profit organisations with free spit hire, vouchers and fundraising support. We’ve also contributed to important causes, including Movember, the Push-Up Challenge, Hands Across Water and the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Whether it’s helping a local club raise money, supporting mental health, contributing to men’s health or backing causes that make a difference, we believe businesses should play a positive role in the community around them.

Because when your mission is to connect people and communities, giving back has to be part of the job.

20 Years Of Australian Outdoor Cooking Culture

A lot has changed in Australian outdoor cooking over the last 20 years.

When we started, spit roasting was already a favourite for big family gatherings, weddings, Greek Easter celebrations, sporting clubs and community events. And that love hasn’t gone anywhere. There’s still something special about seeing a whole lamb, pig or chicken turning slowly over charcoal.

But the category has grown massively.

Low and slow smoking has exploded across Australia. What used to be a niche style of cooking has become a weekend obsession for backyard cooks chasing brisket, ribs, pulled pork and proper bark.

Kamado cooking has also taken off, giving people a way to grill, smoke, roast and bake using charcoal in one seriously versatile setup.

Wood-fired pizza has become a backyard favourite too. Families want that restaurant-style pizza experience at home, especially when entertaining.

Social media has played a huge part in this shift. People see brisket slices, spinning gyros, flame-kissed steaks, crispy pork crackling and bubbling pizzas online, and they want to create that same experience in their own backyard.

Customers are also more educated than ever. They ask better questions. They research more. They care about build quality, fuel type, flavour, accessories and long-term value. They don’t just want the cheapest option. They want gear that will work properly and last.

That’s a good thing.

It means Australian outdoor cooking is becoming more skilled, more creative and more exciting.

Over the next 5 to 10 years, we think the category will keep heading in that direction. More people will build complete outdoor cooking spaces. More families will invest in quality gear. More cooks will combine different styles, from charcoal grilling to smoking, spit roasting, pizza making and live-fire cooking.

But one thing won’t change. Australians will always love gathering around food, fire and family.

What The Next 20 Years Look Like

Twenty years in, we’re still just as passionate about outdoor cooking as we were on day one.

The next chapter for BBQ Spit Rotisseries is about continuing to grow without losing what made the business special in the first place.

We’re committed to staying Australian-owned and independent. That matters to us. It means we can keep making decisions based on what’s best for our customers, not what looks good on a boardroom spreadsheet.

We’ll continue developing our own brands, growing our range and improving the products we offer. Flaming Coals, Auspit and our wider range will keep evolving as customer needs change.

We’ll keep investing in the customer experience too. That means a better website, more helpful content, clearer product information, better videos, stronger support and practical advice that helps customers choose the right gear with confidence.

And as we grow, we’re looking at expanding our fulfilment network into Queensland and New South Wales, helping us get products to more customers faster.

But the core mission won’t change.

We want BBQ Spit Rotisseries to be the best place in Australia to buy outdoor cooking equipment. Not just because we have the products, but because we have the knowledge, service and passion to back them up.

Most importantly, we want to keep helping Australians create great memories over cooking with fire.

Whether it’s a baby’s first birthday, an engagement party, a family feast at Christmas, a club fundraiser or a simple Saturday cook-up with mates, we want customers to know they can rely on BBQ Spit Rotisseries for outstanding products, service and an unforgettable experience.

Ready To Fire Up Your Next Chapter?

Whether you’re buying your first spit rotisserie, upgrading your smoker, building an outdoor kitchen or just looking for better gear for weekend cook-ups, we’d love to help.

Explore our range of spit rotisseries, smokers, pizza ovens, fire pits, kamado grills, rubs, sauces and outdoor cooking accessories online, or visit our Seaford showroom to see the gear in person.

Shop the range at BBQ Spit Rotisseries and take your backyard cooking to the next level.

Final Thoughts

Twenty years in, we’re more passionate about outdoor cooking than ever.

If you’re a long-time customer, thank you. Genuinely. Your support, feedback, stories and repeat business have shaped BBQ Spit Rotisseries into what it is today. If you’re new to us, welcome. We’re glad you’re here.

Whether you’re cooking a whole lamb for Easter, smoking your first brisket, feeding the family on a Friday night or building a backyard setup you’ll use for years, we’d love to help you cook something great.

Because at the end of the day, outdoor cooking has never just been about food. It’s about family, mates, memories, community and the moments that happen around the fire.

by: Sasha Halabi