Downer Group
 | |
| Public | |
| Traded as | ASX: DOW |
| Founded | 1933 |
| Founder | Arnold Fielder Downer |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia |
Key people | Grant Fenn, CEO and Managing Director |
| Services | Engineering & Infrastructure |
| $6.56 billion (June 2016) | |
 $181 million (June 2016) | |
Number of employees | 19,000 (June 2016) |
| Divisions |
Engineering & Construction Mining Rail Technology & Communications Transport Services Utilities |
| Website | www.downergroup.com |
Downer Group is a company that provides engineering and infrastructure management services to the public and private transport, energy, infrastructure, communications and resources sectors, across Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region.
History
The Downer Group was founded in New Zealand in 1933 as Downer & Co by Arnold Fielder Downer focussing on providing engineering and construction services to the public and private infrastructure sectors in New Zealand, including the New Zealand Public Works Department. In 1954 it merged with William Cable Holdings and in 1964 with A&G Price to form Cable Price Downer.[1]
In 1994, Downer merged with Hong Kong based Paul YITC. In 1996, Works Corporation, the state-owned enterprise civil construction arm of the New Zealand Ministry of Works & Development was purchased. In 1997, mining contractor Roche Brothers was acquired.[2] In 1998 the company was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.[1]
In 2000, road sealing business Bitumix was acquired from BP.[3] In 2001 Downer merged with Evans Deakin Industries to form Downer EDI.[1][4] In October 2014, the construction assets of Tenix were acquired.[5]
Major projects
Projects undertaken by the company have included:
- Homer Tunnel (1935-1940)
- Rimutaka Tunnel in partnership with Morrison-Knudsen (1951-1955)[6]
- Cook Strait Ferry Terminal for passenger and freight operations (1960)
- Lower Nihotupu Reservoir (1948)
- Lower Wairarapa Valley flood prevention scheme (1964-1984)
- New Plymouth Power Station (1972)
- City Rail Link, Auckland, New Zealand (started 2016)[7]
Downer Rail
Downer Rail was formed in March 2001 as EDI Rail following the purchase of Evans Deakin Industries by Downer Group. Evans Deakin operated the former Clyde Engineering plants at Kelso and Somerton and Walkers Limited, Maryborough plant. It reopened the former Cardiff Locomotive Workshops to build CityRail M sets. In July 2007 it was renamed Downer Rail.[8]
In 2008 Locomotive Demand Power was established as a subsidiary to lease locomotives. In November 2009 Downer Rail became a tram operator through its 49% shareholding in Keolis Downer that operates the Yarra Trams franchise in Melbourne.[9] In July 2014, Keolis Downer commenced operating the G:link light rail line on the Gold Coast.[10]
In March 2015, Keolis Downer purchased bus operator Australian Transit Enterprises which operates the Hornibrook Bus Lines, Link SA, Path Transit and SouthLink operations with 930 buses.[11]
Sponsorships
In 2016, Downer Group became the naming rights sponsor of the NRL Auckland Nines through until 2018.[12][13] It also sponsored the 2016 Anzac Test at the Newcastle International Sports Centre.[14]
References
- 1 2 3 Company History Downer Group
- ↑ A Family History Roche Brothers
- ↑ Works Civil cleared to acquire Bitumix Commerce Commission New Zealand 27 July 1998
- ↑ Company name and ASX code changes 2001 Australian Securities Exchange
- ↑ Downer EDI buys Salteri family's Tenix business for $300m Sydney Morning Herald 20 October 2014
- ↑ " Longest Tunnel in British Commonwealth" Railway Gazette 18 November 1955 page 584
- ↑ . NBR https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/city-rail-link-become-reality-sl-171066. Retrieved 04 December 2016. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ Downer EDI launches new company names and branding approach Downer EDi 2 July 2007
- ↑ Melbourne tram and train operators selected Railway Gazette International 25 June 2009
- ↑ GoldlinQ selected to build Gold Coast light rail Railway Gazette International 6 May 2011
- ↑ Operator ATE Sold Australasian Bus & Coach 11 March 2015
- ↑ Downer becomes 2016 Nines naming rights sponsor National Rugby League 19 January 2016
- ↑ Downer secures NRL Auckland Nines naming rights sponsorship for 2017 and 2018 NRL Auckland Nines 5 July 2016
- ↑ Downer to sponsor Test Match National Rugby League 13 April 2016