[hinkley]

> The first mini-split systems were sold in 1954–1968 by Mitsubishi Electric and Toshiba in Japan,

- Wikipedia

Carrier and friends were already getting huge by this time in North America, and we were still decades away from any Asian imports being seen as anything more than bottom of the barrel goods.

The shittiest VCR you could buy at Best Buy in the early 1990’s in the US was produced by Goldstar, a Korean manufacturer, which today sells some of the very most expensive home electronics options. A change like that calls for a rebranding, which is why you and I know the company by a different name: LG.

Australia seems to have a more direct line to Asian manufacturers, particularly before shipping improved, so it’s not surprising you all ended up with mini splits. Also old American cooling loops are bulky, making them less efficient to ship that far.

[nikau]

You don't need a split system for reverse cycle - my parents had a 70s window unit aircon with a reverse cycle switch behind the front panel.

They never used it as gas heating was cheaper to run back then.