Austral Star got its start in 2004. While working for a Salt Lake City company, a customer asked if Jared was interested in designing and manufacturing a Bag Lift for airports. The regional jets used by airlines have smaller overhead bins so passengers must check their “carry on” bags at the boarding gate. These checked bags create congestion in the walkway that is a hazard and extra work to transfer them to the aircrafts hold. The Bag Lift creates space outside of the walkway at the terminal level where passengers can place their own bags for transfer to the aircraft. The Bag Lift increases efficiency, safety and reduces work load.

Jared had the inspiration and intellect to take on this challenge. After successfully supplying the first order, Jared left his employer to start his own business building the lifts. With the design, experience, and drive to be a success; all that was needed to make it official was a name for the new company. Jared and his father, Malcolm, contemplated many possibilities. Both had found inspiration in the Australian night sky, particularly a distinctive constellation dubbed the Southern Cross and an event known as the Southern lights or the Aurora Australis. This common appreciation lead to shortening “Australis” to “AUSTRAL” and connecting the five stars of the Southern Cross to design a unique STAR shape for the company logo. The combination of these pieces created the name AUSTRAL STAR; on August 2, 2004, Austral Star, LLC was born.