Hanson Australia

Hanson Australia
Founded 1949
Founder Tristan Antico
Kelvin Conley
Headquarters Parramatta
Products Concrete
Owner Hanson
Subsidiaries Hymix Concrete
Website www.hanson.com.au

Hanson Australia is a premixed concrete, aggregates and precast company. Founded in 1949 as Pioneer Concrete and later rebranded Pioneer International, it was taken over by Hanson in 1999.

History

In 1949 Tristan Antico and Kelvin Conley formed Pioneer Concrete in New South Wales. In 1954 a concrete plant was acquired in Canberra. In 1959 it was listed on the Sydney Stock Market as a public company. As well as acquiring further concreting businesses, it diversified into building materials products.[1]

In 1961 Pioneer purchased a pre-mix concrete plant in Hong Kong. In 1962 it commenced operations in the United Kingdom, followed in 1963 by Israel and 1964 by Italy. In 1965 it formed a joint venture with Shell Australia to enter the asphalt manufacture and supply industry. In the same year, the company diversified into aggregate quarrying in Hong Kong. In 1967 Pioneer acquired FW Williams Holdings that had plastic manufacturing operations and tea and coffee plantations in Papua New Guinea.[1][2]

In 1970 Pioneer acquired pre-mix and quarrying companies in Spain and by the middle of the decade the company's interests had spread to Asia, Africa, and most of Europe. In 1973 in partnership with CSR Limited, Pioneer acquired Australian & Kandos Cement Holdings.[1]

In 1975 Pioneer diversified to invest heavily in resources in a joint project with Pennzoil. In 1978, Pioneer became involved in a major coal coking and steaming development in the Hunter Valley area of New South Wales in a joint venture with the Electricity Commission of New South Wales and Ampol. In 1979 Pioneer acquired a 20% stake in Ampol, which was increased to 65% in 1980. Ampol and Pioneer made further mineral acquisitions with uranium producers Nabarlek Uranium Mine and Queensland Mines.[1]

In 1983 Pioneer purchased British building materials producer Mixconcrete followed in 1985 by Lone Star Industries' sand, gravel, and quarrying operations in the United States. In 1986 Pioneer was the subject of a hostile but ultimately unsuccessful takeover bid from FAI Insurance.[3] In 1986 the building materials divisions in Italy, Portugal, and South Africa were sold. In 1987 mineral and gold producer Giant Resources was acquired. In 1988 the company changed its name to Pioneer International and gained full control of Ampol.[1][4]

In 1995 Ampol merged with Caltex, with Pioneer holding a 50% shareholding, this was sold in 1997.[4][5] In 1998 Hymix Concrete was purchased.[6] In 1999 Pioneer International was taken over by Hanson.[7][8][9] It was rebranded as Hanson Australia in 2004.[10][11]

As at 2018, Hanson operated 226 ready mix concrete plants and 75 aggregate operations.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 International Directory of Company Histories. St James Press. 1991.
  2. ↑ Pioneer Concrete lifts bid for FW Williams Canberra Times 8 October 1966 page 14
  3. ↑ FAI price to rise: Adler Canberra Times 7 October 1987 page 28
  4. 1 2 History Ampol Singapore
  5. ↑ $3bn oil merger full steam ahead Canberra Times 29 March 1995 page 27
  6. ↑ Dennis O'Neil's Addenbrooke is back with a Pyrmont residential project Property Observer 23 November 2017
  7. ↑ ^ Hanson Proposes $2.5 Billion Acquisition of Pioneer Los Angeles Times 29 November 1999
  8. ↑ On aggregate, Hanson is a buy The Guardian 10 December 1999
  9. ↑ Pioneer International Limited Delisted Australia
  10. ↑ Rebranding of Pioneer to Hanson The Right Group
  11. ↑ Hanson completes rebranding exercise Inside Construction 4 June 2004
  12. ↑ Australia Heidelberg Cement
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