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      2025 List of Contractors by Tier

      1,003 Australian Contractors

      Access the most up-to-date, comprehensive list of JVs, Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 civil contractors in Australia, sorted by state. This indispensable resource includes important research links, company websites, and other essential details—perfect for tendering, procurement, and strategic partnership planning. Use our lists to canvas the most well regarded civil and commercial contractors in Australia. Understand the landscape of Australia’s largest infrastructure players and boost your business development efforts.

      Screenshot of Tier Contractors list-1

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      What do the Contractor Tiers mean?

      Tier 1

      A Tier 1 contractor is a construction company that has the ability to self-perform most of the required work on a project with its own employees and equipment. They also usually have a large balance sheet, can take on the project risk and major procurement functions.

      A head contractor, or Tier 1 contractor, leads major engineering and project coordination, managing procurement of key equipment and services. Tier 1 companies are industry leaders, known for their expertise, quality, and delivery of landmark projects valued in the hundreds of millions or billions.

      Tier 2

      A Tier 2 contractor is a construction company that relies on subcontractors to perform much of the work.

      Tier 2 construction companies specialise in large commercial and mid-sized infrastructure projects, with contracts typically between $50m and $300m. They manage substantial work packages, oversee civil engineering, and handle construction and subcontractor management, but do not usually participate in joint ventures with Tier 1 contractors for major projects—such partnerships operate as separate companies based near project sites.

      Tier 3

      A Tier 3 contractor is a construction company that relies heavily on subcontractors and usually only performs minor work on a project.

      Tier 3 construction companies handle smaller residential and commercial projects, usually with contracts from $1 million up to $50 million. They are often subcontracted by Tier 2 contractors, providing equipment and skilled labour to deliver the work.

      JVs

      A JV is when two contractors - usually of the tier 1 or tier 2 size, partner together to share the risk and operational burden of a major infrastructure project.

      When a JV is created, its usually formed under a complete new business ABN and structure. People from each side of the partnership are seconded to the JV to work across various aspects, including procurement, engineering and site management. Within the JV - each partner is responsible for specific areas of the delivery or functional roles, or new people can be hired to fill those functions. 

      Contract Values of the Tiers

      The tier system isn't a fixed system, nor is it judged or adjudicated by anyone. Contractors are classified based on the size of the contracts they usually handle. As this changes often, is usually not disclosed because they operate privately, or as contractors grow, the downloadable list is our best guess here at iseekplant based on our platform data.
      +$500M
      Tier 1 Contractors and JVs
      $50M - $500M
      Tier 2 Contractors
      <$50M
      Tier 3 Contractors

      Need rates for project? 

      How contractors win major civil projects.

      ppe-construction-safety

      Safety Record

      Larger construction companies are regarded as having a strong safety record and personnel safeguards, which is of principal concern to the governments funding large infrastructure projects. They will be able to demonstrate a strong WPHS framework, including dedicated staff, equipment and proven systems - as well as a strong cultural focus on worker safety. 

      tunnel-boring-machine-construction-site-1

      Experience & Speciality

      Many Tier 2 and Tier 3 civil contractors develop a reputation over many years for a particular speciality - such as tunnelling, pipelaying or residential subdivisions.

      Often, they start small and work their way up - trading on their reputation and results.

      In many tenders, you are required to produce proof of past major projects, and often times major contractors will check references and investigate results on past projects.

      Some contractors invest in major pieces of niche equipment to set themselves apart.

      construction-drone-technology

      Technology & Systems

      Modern construction is also done using a variety of new technologies and governments and contractors want to know they are working with the companies that have adopted the leading technology to enhance productivity and cost savings.

      Contractors will also be judged in a tender on the types of systems they use for administration and project management, given large projects are complex and the need for timely information is critical.

      Overall - these factors give an impression of professionalism in construction - and the larger the project, the more professional outfit that is likely to be appointed to the job.

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      Look at live jobs in the system in the categories relevant to your business

      2. Refine by location

      Refine by state to see all the jobs in your local area.

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      If you see jobs that are relevant to your company, you can create a free profile on iseekplant and try the system out, or upgrade into one our affordable monthly plans.
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      Contractors by Tiers

      Here is sample of some of the major names on this list of 1,003 contractors.

      Click the links to visit their supplier profile on iseekplant (yep, even most of the big guys have listed their capability on iseekplant!).

      Tier 1

      Tier 2

      Tier 3

      Frequently Asked Questions

      What is included in the contractor list download?

      You’ll receive a comprehensive spreadsheet listing Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 and JVs civil and commercial contractors across Australia, including company names, website, state, a Google search link for more information, their iseekplant member profile (containing their fleet and capability) and any relevant projects.

      How are the contractor tiers defined?

      Tier 1 contractors are Australia’s largest firms, delivering major infrastructure projects with in-house resources. Tier 2 firms focus on large commercial and mid-sized infrastructure contracts, often relying on subcontractors. Tier 3 contractors deliver smaller-scale projects, typically working as subbies for larger firms. JVs are when two Tier 1 or Tier 2 contractors get together and form a new company to tackle a large multi-year project.

      How often is the list updated?

      Our contractor list is reviewed and updated yearly around June to ensure the most current data on Australia’s leading civil construction companies.

      Can I see a sample of the contractor list before downloading?

      If you look above, you will a sample of the companies that have been catalogued on the list of 1,003 contractors. It's free, so you don't need to stress when you download the list completely.

      Who should use this contractor list?

      This resource is ideal for project owners, business owners, procurement professionals, engineers, and subcontractors seeking to engage or partner with reputable civil contractors in Australia.