Walkers Limited

File:HMAS Toowoomba (AWM 301586).jpg

File:RAN-IFR 2013 D3 24.JPG {{sclass|Attack|patrol boat|1}} {{HMAS|Advance|P 83|6}} on Port Jackson in October 2013]]

File:First steam locomotive built in Queensland the Mary Ann, ca. 1875.tiff

File:Queensland BB18¼ class locomotive.jpg at Enoggera in April 2009]]

File:Emu Bay Railway Bo-Bo no. 1004.jpg on the Zig Zag Railway in July 2011]]

File:Candy 7318.jpg 73 class at Grafton station in January 1986]]

In 1863 John Walker and three friends set up the Union Foundry of John Walker & Co in Ballarat. In 1867 a branch was opened in Maryborough.{{cite book|last=West|first=AM|title=Made in Maryborough|year=1994|publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society, Queensland Division|location=Brisbane}}

The Ballarat assets were disposed of in 1879 and in 1884, the business became a limited company under the title John Walker & Co Limited, being renamed Walkers Limited in 1888. The company produced most of the parts for machinery at sugar mills.{{cite web|url=http://queenslandplaces.com.au/node/553|title=Maryborough|work=Queensland Places|publisher=Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland|access-date=26 June 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010160304/http://queenslandplaces.com.au/node/553|archive-date=10 October 2012}}

In 1980 Walkers Limited was sold to Evans Deakin Industries. It was included in the purchase of Evans Deakin by Downer Group in March 2001 and today the Maryborough factory continues to operate as part of Downer Rail.[http://www.delisted.com.au/company/evans-deakin-industries-limited Evans Deakin Industries Limited] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106164648/http://www.delisted.com.au/company/evans-deakin-industries-limited |date=6 January 2014 }} delisted.com.au[http://www.downergroup.com/Documents/Investors/AGM,-Financial-Results--Reports/200001/Annual-Report/2001_ANNUAL_REPORT_20080811044448.pdf Annual Report 30 June 2001] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106170546/http://www.downergroup.com/Documents/Investors/AGM,-Financial-Results--Reports/200001/Annual-Report/2001_ANNUAL_REPORT_20080811044448.pdf |date=6 January 2014 }} Downer EDI

In 2003 Bundaberg Foundry Engineers completed the acquisition of the Walkers Sugar Business and moved to change the operating name to Bundaberg Walkers Engineering in January 2008.[http://www.bundabergwalkers.com.au/?page_id=2 History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222100548/http://www.bundabergwalkers.com.au/?page_id=2 |date=22 December 2015 }} Bundaberg Walters

In 1884, the firm began work on five hopper barges for the Queensland Department of Harbours & Rivers. During construction the decision was taken to convert them to also serve as auxiliary gunboats, which made them the largest warships built in Australia before federation. During World War II, Walkers constructed two {{sclass2|River|frigate}}s, a {{sclass2|Bay|frigate|2}} and seven {{sclass|Bathurst|corvette}}s, in addition to other smaller vessels. Post war naval contracts included seven {{sclass|Attack|patrol boat}}s in the late 1960s and eight {{sclass|Balikpapan|landing craft heavy}} in the early 1970s. After the completion of the latter, Walker's Maryborough shipyard closed in 1974.

• 1 Bay-class frigate: {{HMAS|Shoalhaven|K535|6}}
• 2 River-class frigates: {{HMAS|Burdekin|K376|6}} and {{HMAS|Diamantina|K377|2}}
• 7 Bathurst-class corvettes: {{HMAS|Bowen}}, {{HMAS|Cairns|J183|2}}, {{HMAS|Gladstone|J324|2}}, {{HMAS|Maryborough|J195|2}}, {{HMAS|Rockhampton||2}}, {{HMAS|Tamworth||2}} and {{HMAS|Toowoomba|J157|2}}
• 7 Attack-class patrol boats: {{HMAS|Advance|P 83|6}}, {{HMAS|Aitape|P 84|2}}, {{HMAS|Arrow|P 88|2}}, {{HMAS|Bandolier|P 95|2}}, {{HMAS|Barbette|P 97|2}}, {{HMAS|Ladava|P 92|2}} and {{HMAS|Lae|P 93|2}}
• 8 Balikpapan-class landing craft heavy: {{HMAS|Balikpapan|L 126|6}}, {{HMAS|Brunei|L 127|2}}, {{HMAS|Labuan|L 128|2}}, {{HMAS|Tarakan|L 129|2}}, {{HMAS|Wewak|L 130|2}}, {{HMAS|Salamaua|L 131|2}}, {{HMAS|Buna|L 132|2}} and {{HMAS|Betano|L 133|2}}
• 9 Koala-class boom defence vessel: HMAS Kimbla
• 2 Explorer class general-purpose vessels: HMAS Bass, HMAS Banks

The company's first locomotive was built at Maryborough in 1873 for William Pettigrew's (now heritage-listed) Cooloola Tramway; it was called "Mary Ann" as it was the name of the daughter of William Pettigrew and also the name of the daughter of his business partner William Sim.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27278329 |title=MESSRS. PETTIGREW AND SIMS' RAILWAY. |newspaper=The Queenslander |date=8 November 1873 |access-date=31 October 2015 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124044309/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/27278329 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article150206738 |title=WALKERS BUILD LOCOS. |newspaper=Maryborough Chronicle |location=Qld. |date=14 August 1952 |access-date=31 October 2015 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124044322/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/150206738 |url-status=live }}{{cite QHR|25912|Pettigrew's Cooloola Timber Tramway Complex|602819|access-date=1 August 2014}} The first major contract for locomotives came in 1896, when an order for thirty B15 class steam locomotives was placed by Queensland Railways. In the 1960s Walkers offered a diesel-hydraulic unit to Queensland's sugar operators. Although not successful, it did sell six to BHP, Whyalla from 1962. It had more success with its DH class shunter with over 130 built for Queensland Rail, the New South Wales Government Railways, Emu Bay Railway and Western Australian Government Railways.

• 46 Queensland B class
• 122 Queensland PB15 class
• 45 Queensland C16 class
• 138 Queensland C17 class
• 6 Queensland C19 class
• 59 Queensland B18¼ class
• 20 Queensland BB18¼ class
• 20 Victorian D^D class
• 20 Commonwealth Railways KA class
• 8 Commonwealth Railways C class
• 40 South Australian T class
• 3 Tasmanian Government Railways Q class

• 12 Queensland 1170 class

• 6 BHP Whyalla DH class
• 3 Emu Bay Railway 10 class
• 73 Queensland Railways DH class
• 50 New South Wales 73 class
• 7 Emu Bay Railway 11 class
• 5 Western Australian Government Railways M class

• 50 Queensland Rail 3500/3600 class
• 30 Queensland Rail 3900 class

File:Kuala Lumpur Star LRT train (four-EMU).jpg-Walkers EMU]]

• 264 Queensland Rail EMU carriages
• 36 Queensland Rail SMU200 carriages
• 90 Queensland Rail SMU220 carriages
• 20 Queensland Rail ICE carriages
• 30 Queensland Rail IMU100 carriages
• 12 Queensland Rail IMU120 carriages
• 96 Transperth A series carriages
• 90 Kuala Lumpur Metro Line 3 & 4 light rail vehiclesEDI Wins Light Rail Order Extension Railway Digest June 1995 page 9

• 12 Queensland Rail Tilt Train carriages

In 2017, Walkers Limited was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame. Walkers Limited is regarded as being one of Queensland's greatest companies spanning 150 years in the engineering manufacturing sector.{{Cite web|url=http://leaders.slq.qld.gov.au/inductees/walkers-limited/|title=Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame 2017 Inductee Walkers Limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317081821/http://leaders.slq.qld.gov.au/inductees/walkers-limited/|archive-date=17 March 2018|url-status=live}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://vimeo.com/225935999 Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame – 2017 Inductee digital story – Walkers Limited]

Category:Companies based in Queensland

Category:Engineering companies of Australia

Category:Defunct locomotive manufacturers of Australia

Category:Maryborough, Queensland

Category:Defunct rolling stock manufacturers of Australia

Category:Shipbuilding companies of Australia

Category:Shipyards of Australia

Category:Australian companies established in 1863

Category:Queensland in World War II