Top 10 Construction Companies in Australia

If you live in the “land down under” and you’re looking to build, take a look at this list of the top 10 construction companies in Australia.

I’m a big fan of infrastructure, specifically buildings and homes. It’s amazing to see what architects and construction companies can come up with, starting from a plot of dirt. Whether it’s a towering skyscraper or a family’s new home, it’s always interesting to see these visions come to life. When it comes to building things, I don’t think I would trust myself with constructing something people have to live or work in. So, it may be best for me to just stick with Ikea furniture for now. However, construction is big business in most parts of the world, especially in developed countries, and there are many talented individuals who put on a hard hat everyday. Construction definitely isn’t the safest career field out there either. According to Safe Work Australia the construction field industry had the third highest number of work-related fatalities in the country from 2003-2015 (the most recently studied period). Thinking of construction and safety always reminds me of the iconic black and white photo of the men taking a lunch break on a beam hanging high above the streets of New York City. I’d prefer to be in a fully finished building if I am going to be that high up. Even though that photo was taken during the construction of 30 Rockefeller Center in the 1930s, what they’re building now in the city makes that look small. You can find more about The Big Apple’s massive undertakings with this article on the Biggest Construction Projects in New York City.

Australia, like many countries with a steadily growing economy is home to a vast number of construction companies that cover everything from commercial towers to single family homes. Construction is also a good indicator of a country’s economy because when the economy is good, construction is booming. On the other hand almost all construction comes to a halt during a recession or depression. Since Australia seems to be doing well enough economically, we’ll take a look at the top construction companies in Australia 2016, as 2017 is in full swing and there are no final results for that yet. Some of these companies are so good and so well respected, they are ranked on many lists of top construction companies in Australia 2015 too. A number of the companies on our list also find themselves on lists of top 40 Australian contractors as they are well-known and some of the top tier construction companies in the city.

In looking for the top construction companies in Australia, we had to check the internet for valuable and credible websites with relevant write-ups on the topic. In this case, we sourced our information from White Card Australia, Construction Global, and Sourceable. We then took every construction company appearing on all three sites and ranked them according to their size. The more employees they have, the higher they are placed on our list. The number of each company’s employees was sourced from their profiles on LinkedIn. A sizable staff means the company has a large number of projects they are completing. A company would have to be among the “top” companies to have so many projects and employees under their watch.

Get your hard hat ready for our list of top 10 construction companies in Australia.

10. Brookfield Multiplex

Number of employees: 4,000+

Brookfield Multiplex belongs is a huge company handling a wide range of different construction and industrial projects. They primarily provide services in commercial and residential construction, landmark property, and so much more. Their 50 years of experience just proves how great they are in what they do.

9. Hutchinson Builders

Number of employees: 5,000+

Established in 1912, this construction company could very well pass off as among the most trusted, since they are known to handle around 250 projects in Australia every year. Hutchies, as it is fondly called, specializes in retail, education, and high-rise establishments.

8. Monadelphous Engineering Associates

Number of employees: 5,000+

This construction company is rightfully considered to be among the best and the most trusted companies in Australia and has been around since 1978. They handle construction, maintenance, and industrial services for residential and commercial buildings.

7. Watpac Australia Pty Ltd.

Number of employees: 5,000+

Watpac Limited has been operating for 30 years and is still among the undisputed top construction companies in Australia. Apart from design and construction, this company also handles mining services. The company anchors on their skilled workforce and best-practice management systems.

6. BGC Group (Australia) Pty Ltd

Number of employees: 5,000+ employees

BGC Contracting has been around since the 1960s and has successfully managed to widen their scope from only construction projects to a whole lot more. They now offer drill and blast, heavy road haulage, mining and civil construction, property ownership, and fabrication services.

5. John Holland Pty Ltd.

Number of employees: 5,000+

John Holland Pty is one of the younger companies on our list as they have been operating since 1991. However, age is just a number and they have since maintained their reputable status as one of the most trusted construction companies in Australia. They not only do construction jobs, but have also succeeded in handling energy, waterworks, marine, and even systems engineering.

4. CPB Contractors

Number of employees: 10,000+

This construction company has gained popularity for its huge projects which made it the powerhouse construction company it is today. Not only do they handle construction projects in the Land Down Under, they also do infrastructure in Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Asia.

3. Laing O” Rourke

Number of employees: 10,000+

Building from the ground up since 1978, this construction company has more than 10,000 employees, which shows just how strong and competitive they are in the industry. They specialize in construction, engineering, and infrastructure. They also handle oil and gas projects.

2. Thiess Pty Ltd

Number of employees: 12,000+

Thiess not only serves Australia in terms of construction and mining. They also generously provide premium services in Indonesia, Chile, and Canada. Known as one of the biggest and most trusted mining companies in the world, there is no doubt that Thiess is also one of Australia’s best.

1. Downer EDI Works Pty Ltd

Number of employees: 19,000+

Judging solely from the number of employees, there clearly is no doubt that Downer Group is Australia’s top construction company. They not only operate in Australia, but also lend their expertise in other parts of the world, including New Zealand, Asia Pacific, and South Africa.

If you’re looking into investing into buildings and construction, take your cue from the top construction companies in Australia.