Downer Group

Downer's foundations were laid in the 19th century, when Walkers Limited and Clyde Engineering were founded in Australia, and the Public Works Department and Electrical Telegraph Department were founded in New Zealand. They merged in the 20th century to form parts of the Downer Group. The 20th century also saw the purchase of companies that now make up Downer's core divisions: railway manufacturer Evans Deakin & Company (EDI) and mining contractor Roche Brothers.[https://www.downergroup.com/company-history History] Downer Group

In 1933, the Downer Group was founded in New Zealand by Arnold Fielder Downer, as Downer & Co, focusing 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, Downer & Co merged with William Cable Holdings and, in 1964, with A & G Price, to form Cable Price Downer.

In 1994, Downer merged with Hong Kong-based Paul YITC. In 1996, the company purchased Works Corporation, the state-owned enterprise civil construction arm of the New Zealand Ministry of Works & Development. In 1997, mining contractor Roche Brothers was acquired.[http://www.rocheholdings.com.au/About-Us.aspx A Family History] Roche Brothers In 1998, Downer purchased major roads contractor Technic Group, and was first listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

In 2000, road-sealing business Bitumix was acquired from BP.[http://www.comcom.govt.nz/the-commission/media-centre/media-releases/1998/workscivilclearedto Works Civil cleared to acquire Bitumix] Commerce Commission New Zealand 27 July 1998 In 2001, Downer merged with Evans Deakin Industries to form Downer EDI.[http://www.asx.com.au/prices/company-name-and-asx-code-changes-2001.htm Company name and ASX code changes 2001] Australian Securities Exchange Between 2003 and 2008, Downer also acquired Stork, QCC, Snowden, Emoleum and Excell Corporation. In October 2014, the construction assets of Tenix were acquired.[http://www.smh.com.au/business/downer-edi-buys-salteri-familys-tenix-business-for-300m-20141019-118l2b.html Downer EDI buys Salteri family's Tenix business for $300m] Sydney Morning Herald 20 October 2014

In March 2017, Downer acquired Hawkins, one of New Zealand's largest builders, and in June 2017, took majority ownership of Spotless Group Holdings through a hostile takeover.[https://thewest.com.au/business/markets/downer-set-to-launch-13b-bid-for-spotless-ng-b88420954z Downer launches $1.27b bid for Spotless] The West Australian 21 March 2017[http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/06/27/downer-edi-seeks-seats-spotless-board Downer EDI seeks seats on Spotless board] Special Broadcasting Service 27 June 2017 It took full ownership of Spotless for $1.27 billion in October 2020.{{Cite web|title=ASX Announcements|url=https://www.downergroup.com/asx-announcements|access-date=2021-03-29|website=Downer Corporate Site}}{{Cite web|last=Pash|first=Chris|date=2017-03-21|title=Downer EDI moves into cleaning with a $1.27 billion bid for Spotless|url=https://www.businessinsider.com.au/downer-edi-moves-into-cleaning-with-a-1-27-billion-bid-for-spotless-2017-3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321024012/https://www.businessinsider.com.au/downer-edi-moves-into-cleaning-with-a-1-27-billion-bid-for-spotless-2017-3|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 March 2017|access-date=2021-03-29|website=Business Insider Australia}} The Spotless acquisition was the largest in Downer's history.{{Cite web|last=Wells|first=Peter|date=2017-03-21|title=Spotless Group spikes after A$1.2bn bid from Downer EDI|url=https://www.ft.com/content/cef7e856-a84f-3a60-8dca-6d0d531805af|access-date=2021-03-29|website=Financial Times}}{{Cite web|date=2017-12-21|title=Downer-Spotless: Inside the capital markets story of the year|url=https://www.afr.com/companies/how-downers-grant-fenn-used-a-cannon-to-down-sparrow-spotless-20171219-h07joj|access-date=2021-03-29|website=Australian Financial Review}}

Projects undertaken by the company have included:

• Homer Tunnel (1935–1940)
• Rimutaka Tunnel in partnership with Morrison-Knudsen (1951–1955)" Longest Tunnel in British Commonwealth" Railway Gazette 18 November 1955 page 584
• 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 (started 2016){{cite web|url=https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/city-rail-link-become-reality-sl-171066|title=City Rail Link Become Reality|date=7 April 2015|access-date=4 December 2016|publisher=NBR}}
• Christmas Creek mine (2010–2016){{Cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/fortescue-scraps-downer-christmas-creek-agreement/news-story/1ae8ac9062e5f032b7aefbcaa855ef81|title = Subscribe to the Australian | Newspaper home delivery, website, iPad, iPhone & Android apps}}
• Gorgon gas project (2014–2017){{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/downer-wins-gorgon-contract-20140902-3eqf4.html|title=Downer wins Gorgon contract|date=2 September 2014|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}
• Wheatstone (2014–2017){{cite web|url=https://www.afr.com/technology/technology-companies/downer-edi-wins-400m-wheatstone-contract-20131101-jgu5u|title=Downer EDI wins $400m Wheatstone contract|date=1 November 2013|website=Australian Financial Review}}
• Carrapateena mine{{cite web|url=https://www.ausenco.com/en/Carrapateena-epc-contract|title=Ausenco Downer JV awarded EPC contract for Carrapateena Copper Gold Mine Project|website=Ausenco}}
• Gruyere Gold Project{{cite web|url=https://thewest.com.au/business/mining/gruyere-gold-project-partners-sign-five-year-400m-contract-ng-b88696029z|title=Gruyere gold project partners sign $400m contract|date=19 December 2017|website=The West Australian}}
• Meandu Mine operations{{cite web|url=https://blog.plantminer.com.au/downer-wins-250m-contract-extension-at-meandu-mine|title=Downer wins $250m contract extension at Meandu Mine|first=Sophia|last=Rostron|website=blog.plantminer.com.au}}
• Ross River solar farm
• Clare solar farm
• Australia's National Broadband Network; FttC, FttN, HFC
• High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT) with CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles{{cite web|url=https://www.railexpress.com.au/downer-consortium-wins-hcmt-contract/|title=Downer consortium wins HCMT contract|first=Oliver|last=Probert|date=12 September 2016}}
• Sydney Growth Trains (SGT) with CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles{{cite web|url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/node/5103|title=Sydney Growth Trains|author=Transport for NSW|date=23 June 2017|website=Transport for NSW}}
• Maintenance of Sydney Trains' Millennium passenger fleet{{cite web|url=https://www.downergroup.com/millenium-maintenance-contract-extension|title=Millenium maintenance contract extension|website=Downer Corporate Site}}
• Newcastle Light Rail{{cite web|url=https://revitalisingnewcastle.nsw.gov.au/what-we-are-doing/newcastle-light-rail/|title=Newcastle Light Rail|website=Revitalising Newcastle|access-date=12 January 2019|archive-date=28 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228050241/https://revitalisingnewcastle.nsw.gov.au/what-we-are-doing/newcastle-light-rail/|url-status=dead}}

Downer reports its financial results under five service lines: Transport; Utilities; Facilities; Engineering, Construction and Maintenance (EC&M); and Mining.

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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070901080726/http://www.downeredirail.com.au/Default.aspx?aCateId=1626 Downer EDI launches new company names and branding approach] Downer EDi 2 July 2007

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.[http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/melbourne-tram-and-train-operators-selected.html Melbourne tram and train operators selected] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415045241/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/melbourne-tram-and-train-operators-selected.html |date=15 April 2016 }} Railway Gazette International 25 June 2009 In July 2014, Keolis Downer commenced operating the G:link light rail line on the Gold Coast.[http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/goldlinq-selected-to-build-gold-coast-light-rail.html GoldlinQ selected to build Gold Coast light rail] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212193029/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/goldlinq-selected-to-build-gold-coast-light-rail.html |date=12 December 2013 }} Railway Gazette International 6 May 2011

In March 2015, Keolis Downer purchased bus operator Australian Transit Enterprises which operates the Hornibrook Bus Lines, LinkSA, Path Transit and SouthLink operations with 930 buses.[http://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1503/operator-ate-sold/ Operator ATE Sold] Australasian Bus & Coach 11 March 2015 In July 2017, Keolis Downer commenced operating bus and ferry services in Newcastle under the Newcastle Transport brand.[https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/4349836/keolis-downer-awarded-contract-to-run-newcastle-public-transport-gallery/?cs=305 Keolis Downer awarded contract to run light rail, buses and ferries says Baird government] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220122314/http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4349836/keolis-downer-awarded-contract-to-run-newcastle-public-transport-gallery/?cs=305 |date=20 December 2016 }} Newcastle Herald 12 December 2016[http://keolisdowner.com.au/?p=8988 Keolis Downer awarded Newcastle Transport Contract] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810092011/http://keolisdowner.com.au/?p=8988 |date=10 August 2017}} Keolis Downer 12 December 2016

Transport comprises Downer's road services, infrastructure projects, and rail & transit systems businesses. It conducts transport infrastructure services that include earthworks, civil construction, asset management, maintenance, surfacing and stabilisation, supply of bituminous products and logistics, open space and facilities management and rail track signalling and electrification works.{{cite web|url=https://www.downergroup.com/roads|title=Roads|website=Downer Corporate Site}} In June 2023, Downer Group sold the transport projects business to Gamuda Berhad who rebranded it DT Infrastructure.[https://www.afr.com/street-talk/ey-tows-malaysia-s-gamuda-into-downer-s-transport-projects-arm-20230223-p5cn1e EY tows Malaysia’s Gamuda into Downer projects arm] Australian Financial Review 23 February 2023[https://www.downergroup.com/downer-completes-sale-of-australian-transport Downer completes sale of Australian Transport Projects business] Downer Group 20 June 2023[https://dtinfrastructure.com.au/who-we-are/ History of DT Infrastructure] DT Infrastructure

The Utilities service line provides services to customers across the power and gas, water, communications and renewables sectors. Downer designs, builds, operates and maintains steel lattice transmission towers, electricity and gas networks, wastewater treatment plants, water assets, wind farms, solar farms and telecommunication networks such as the NBN.{{cite web|url=https://www.downergroup.com/communications|title=Communications|website=Downer Corporate Site}}

The Facilities services line operates in Australia and New Zealand delivering facilities services to customers across a range of industry sectors including: defence, education, health government and hospitality. Facilities businesses include Spotless, AE Smith, Alliance, Ensign, EPICURE, Mustard, Nuvo, Taylors and Envar.{{cite web|url=https://www.downergroup.com/facilities-management|title=Facilities Management|website=Downer Group |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009231111/https://www.downergroup.com/facilities-management |archive-date= Oct 9, 2023 }}

Downer's Asset Services line includes its Oil and Gas, Power Generation and Industrial businesses and it works with customers in the public and private sectors delivering services including design, engineering, construction and maintenance of critical assets. In the oil and gas sector, Downer's capabilities cover the full range of services including maintenance, shutdown, turnaround and outage delivery, sustaining capital program delivery, project and commissioning services.{{Cite web |title=Annual Report 2020 |url=https://www.downergroup.com/Content/cms/ResultsCentre/DOW0056_Annual_Report_2020_COMBINED_AW_LR_5_.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312044655/https://www.downergroup.com/Content/cms/ResultsCentre/DOW0056_Annual_Report_2020_COMBINED_AW_LR_5_.pdf |archive-date=Mar 12, 2024 |website=Downer Group}}

Downer also has a Defence business which offers professional and managed services, asset sustainment and estate upkeep services to the Australian and New Zealand defence forces.{{cite web|url=https://www.downergroup.com/defence|title=Defence|website=Downer Group |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924164401/https://www.downergroup.com/defence |archive-date= Sep 24, 2023 }}

On 1 February 2021 Downer completed the sale of its Open Cut Mining West business to MACA Limited.{{cite web |url=https://www2.asx.com.au/markets/trade-our-cash-market/announcements.dow |website=ASX|title=Market announcements - DOW |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240313224128/https://www.asx.com.au/markets/trade-our-cash-market/announcements.dow |archive-date= 13 March 2024 }} The remainder of the Downer Mining business was divested in December 2021 upon sale of its Open Cut Mining East division to Buma Australia Pty Ltd. {{Cite web |title=Downer completes sale of open cut mining east |url=https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20211217/pdf/4548f505d2bv95.pdf |date=17 December 2021 |publisher=Downer |website=ASX |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221224001057/https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20211217/pdf/4548f505d2bv95.pdf |archive-date= Dec 24, 2022 }}

In 2019 Downer admitted to using dowsing, in an attempt to find water pipes while contracting to the Wellington City Council. Dowsing is considered a pseudoscience and there is no scientific evidence that it is any more effective than random chance. Downer told New Zealand Skeptic's chair Craig Shearer that Downer has no concern about the public perception that ratepayer money is being spent on a technique considered pseudoscience. Downer's general manager of business excellence and reputation Brooke Dahlberg said "the method is safe, and it has no plan to ban staff from using it – the choice to use it was up to individual employees."[https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2019/03/06/471504/wellington-ratepayers-foot-bill-for-pseudo-science Wellington ratepayers foot bill for pseudo science] Newsroom 6 March 2019

In December 2019, at the New Zealand Skeptics annual conference, the Downer Group was co-awarded the Bent Spoon by NZ Skeptics for "showing the most egregious gullibility in 2019" for the contractor's use of water divining to find underground pipes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/117848225/wellington-city-council-wins-skeptics-award-after-contractor-divines-for-water|title = Wellington City Council wins Skeptics award after contractor divines for water|date = December 2019}}

Downer Group was the naming rights sponsor of the NRL Auckland Nines in 2016 and 2017.[http://www.nrl.com/downer-becomes-2016-nines-naming-rights-sponsor/tabid/10874/newsid/91384/default.aspx Downer becomes 2016 Nines naming rights sponsor] National Rugby League 19 January 2016[http://nrlaucklandnines.co.nz/downer-secures-nrl-auckland-nines-2017-2018/ Downer secures NRL Auckland Nines naming rights sponsorship for 2017 and 2018] NRL Auckland Nines 5 July 2016 It also sponsored the 2016 Anzac Test at the Newcastle International Sports Centre and the 2018 World Club Challenge.[http://www.nrl.com/downer-to-sponsor-test-match/tabid/10874/newsid/94791/default.aspx Downer to sponsor Test Match] National Rugby League 13 April 2016[https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2018/02/05/downer-partners-with-world-club-challenge/ Downer partners with World Club Challenge] Melbourne Storm 6 February 2018 Downer will be the major sponsor of the Rugby League World Cup 9s.[https://www.downergroup.com/major-sponsorship-announcement Major sponsorship announcement] Downer Group 30 November 2018{{needs update|date=August 2020}}

In 2017, Downer signed on to be the major sponsor of the Sunshine Coast Lightning netball team.{{cite web|url=https://www.downergroup.com/major-partnership-with-sunshine-coast-lightni|title=Major partnership with Sunshine Coast Lightning|website=Downer Corporate Site}}

In 2021 Downer joined mental health organisation Beyond Blue as its Major Partner.{{cite web |url=https://www.downergroup.com/downer-joins-beyond-blue-as-major-partner |website=Downer|title=Downer joins Beyond Blue as Major Partner}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.downergroup.com Company website]

{{S&P/ASX 200}}

Category:Companies based in Sydney

Category:Companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange

Category:Engineering companies of Australia

Category:New Zealand companies established in 1933

Category:Construction and civil engineering companies established in 1933