Guide to Downer Group & Their Major Projects

Downer, in operation for over 150 years, is a multinational integrated services company that manages assets, while also designing and building infrastructure and facilities across Australasia.

With history dating back to the 1800s, through Walkers Limited and Clyde Engineering, Downer has since grown into an national powerhouse with massive projects covering transport, utilities, rail, mining, solar, maintenance, and even correctional facilities across Australia.

History has seen Downer cover projects like Gorgon Gas, Wheatstone, NBN, The Great Eastern Highway upgrade, and the New Plymouth Power Station, with modern contracts covering work on projects like the $460m Newcastle Light Rail, Blackwater Coal Mine, Princes Highway Upgrade, High Capacity Metro Trains for Melbourne Metro, BELECTRIC GmbH's Limondale Solar Farm, and Carrapateena Mine just to name a few, alongside a flurry of minor and major infrastructure and mining projects across Australia. 

This decade also saw Downer diversify its investments further by undertaking three major acquisitions in acquiring Tenix, a major utility contractor, Spotless Group (now owning 87.8%), a provider of integrated facilities services, and Hawkins, one of New Zealand's largest building  and construction companies.  

The company boasts over 200 nation-wide, supported by an over 56,000 global employees. 

Earlier this year, Downer celebrated 120 years of operations in New South Wales, where it currently employs over 7,000 people across 50 locations. Elsewhere, in Queensland the company boasts 3500 employees across 40 sites, in Victoria it boasts 2000 employees across 40 sites, with over 4,500 employees across 50 sites in Western Australia. 

Who is buying Downer EDI’S mining business?

Downer EDI has recently suspended its sale process due to high market volatility. As a result, the previous front runner to purchase the mining services business, Perenti Global Ltd has also halted its interest, claiming that current market uncertainty means the acquisition is not in the shareholders best interests.

Does Downer EDI own Spotless?

Downer took majority ownership of Spotless Group Holdings in June 2017. They currently hold an 88% ownership share of Spotless.

What does Downer EDI stand for?

Downer EDI refers to the March 2001 merge of Downer and Evans Deakins Industries (EDI). Evans Deakins Industries were an engineering and shipbuilding company which was formed in 1910.

What does the Downer Group do?

An integrated services provider, the Downer Group specialises in designing, building and sustaining infrastructure, assets and facilities across Australasia.

How many people work for Downer?

There are currently in excess of 53,000 people employed by the Downer Group. This is primarily across Australasia, but includes Southern Africa, South America and Asia-Pacific.

Check out all the major updates about Downer and their operations below