• Home
  • News
  • About Us
    • About Us

      Downer Professional Services is the latest evolution of the Downer Groups trusted nation and capability building services.

      Learn more
      • Who We Are
      • History
      • Leadership Team
      • Who We Are
      • History
      • Leadership Team
  • What We Do
    • What We Do

      We provide expert people, quality services and technology to ensure the safety, security and prosperity of the nation.

      Learn more
      • Our Markets
      • Service Lines
      • Our Markets
      • Service Lines
  • Careers
  • Resources
    • Resources

      Learn more
      • Case Studies
      • News
      • Case Studies
      • News
  • Contact us
  • Enquiries

Downers History With Defence

  • Home
  • About Us
  • History
  • 1940s

    1940s

    Establishment

    Having supported Defence for 80 years across a range of services, the Department of Defence is one of Downer’s longest standing customers. Downer has provided manufacturing and heavy industry capability to the Defence sector since the 1940s when Evans Deakin Industries manufactured the Bathurst Class anti-submarine Frigates.

    1941

    Construct 11 Bathurst Class Anti Submarine Frigates for Royal Australian Navy.

    1941

    1943

    Construct four River-class frigates (HMAS Burdekin, HMAS Diamantina, HMAS Shoalhaven and HMAS Murchison) for Royal Australian Navy.

    1943
  • 1950s

    1950s

    ㅤ

    ㅤ

    1953

    Construct Koala-class vessel: HMAS Kimbla

    1953
  • 1960s

    1960s

    ㅤ

    ㅤ

    1960

    Construct Explorer-class vessels HMAS Bass and HMAS Banks.

    1960

    1965-1968

    Construct 20 Attack Class Patrol Boats at facilities in Brisbane and Maryborough. Construct F-111 maintenance hangar for RAAF Amberly.

    1965-1968

    1969

    Construct Supply Carrier Vessel HMAS Japarit.

    1969
  • 1970s

    1970s

    ㅤ

    ㅤ

    1971

    Construct 8 Balikpapan-class landing craft (400 soldier capacity).

    1971

    1977

    Awarded $22m electrical services construction at RAAF Base Learmonth.

    1977
  • 1980s

    1980s

    ㅤ

    ㅤ

    1988

    Design and manufacture Echidna Explosive Ordnance Demolition robot.

    1988
  • 1990s

    1990s

    ㅤ

    The breadth of our service offerings allows us to provide advisory and project delivery services to the same customer organisation. This provides value to Defence through the retention of project knowledge and early contractor involvement. Importantly, we are conscious of the need to identify and manage probity and conflict of interest concerns.

    1995

    Awarded first generation outsourcing contract for defence estate upkeep and maintenance works (buildings and facilities, plant and equipment).

    1995

    1998

    Partner with Mercedes Benz to deliver the Medium Recovery Vehicle variant of the Unimog truck

    1998
  • 2000s

    2000s

    ㅤ

    ㅤ

    2000

    Awarded airfield lighting and control systems contract at RAAF Bases Pearce and Gin Gin.

    2000

    2001

    Awarded contracts for defence estate upkeep and maintenance works (buildings and facilities, plant and equipment) for various Defence bases in NT, WA, VIC, SA.

    2001

    2003

    Delivered airfield pavement surface enrichment to Jervis Bay Airfield, RAAF Pearce, RAAF Darwin, RAAF Gin Gin, RAAF Tindall, HMAS Albatross, RAAF Amberley, RAAF Townsville and RAAF Scherger.

    2003

    2004-2005

    Appointed first generation of combined hard and soft services contract for SEQld Defence bases. Appointed facilities maintenance contractor for NZ Southern Region (Burnham). Awarded taxiway widening project at RAAF Williamtown.

    2004-2005

    2006

    Awarded taxiway widening project at RAAF Williamtown.

    2006

    2007

    Awarded HV electrical upgrade works - RAAF Williamtown.

    2007

    2008

    Appointed integrated facilities provider for 25 years to HQJOC high security facility.

    2008
  • 2010s

    2010s

    ㅤ

    With this is mind, Downer has established a separate and wholly owned subsidiary, Downer Professional Services, dedicated to the delivery of ‘above the line’ professional services. Separated by reporting lines, location, people and systems, the interaction between Downer Professional Services and the rest of the Downer Group is strongly governed.

    2010

    Deliver extensive runway rehabilitation works - RAAF Richmond, RAAF Edinburgh.

    2010

    2011

    Appointed facilities maintenance contractor - NZ Defence Central Region.

    2011

    2014

    Awarded estate upkeep and base operations services provider to 170 defence sites across QLD, NSW. Awarded and deliver runway pavement overlay at HMAS Albatross.

    2014

    2015

    Awarded HV Upgrade Works - Holsworthy Defence Base.

    2015

    2017

    Awarded HV Upgrade Works - RAAF Williamtown.

    2017

    2018

    Appointed Managing Contractor - Shoalwater Bay Training Area Remediation Project. Awarded HV upgrade - RAAF Richmond. Awarded HVAC Works Package - HMAS Cerberus. Appointed as one of four Major Service Providers (MSPs) to the Department of Defence’s Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG). Awarded 20km Fibre Optic Communications Line Installation - SA Defence Installation.

    2018

    2019

    Downer MSP Awarded Contract Extension Over 4 Years with Critical Systems Branch (CASG) - delivering fleet information environment modernisation project. Contract Extension NZDF Facilities Maintenance- Central Defence -Linton, Ohakea, Waiouru.

    2019
  • 2020s

    2020s

    ㅤ

    ㅤ

    2020

    Two-year Extension Of Estate Upkeep And Operation Services - ADF bases QLD, SNSW, ACT. Appointed Managing Contractor - Victoria Barracks Melbourne Redevelopment. Awarded Head Contractor - RAAF Williamtown Runway Upgrade. NZDF Facilities Maintenance extension, Southern (Burnham). Ōhakea Air Base P8 Aircraft Hangar (Te Whare Toroa). Awarded HV upgrade works six ADF Bases. Calliope Wharf NZ.

    2020

    2021

    Awarded programme of 300 base upgrades across QLD, ACT, NSW. Extension of SEA2273 Professional Services contract to CIOG. Awarded Naval Combat Systems Integration Works Programme (MILWS) by CASG. As of 2021 Downer has 31 contracts within Defence’s Chief Information Officer Group. Awarded Defence Innovation Hub contract to develop the Muskito IED capability.

    2021
Back to top
  • 1940s
  • 1950s
  • 1960s
  • 1970s
  • 1980s
  • 1990s
  • 2000s
  • 2010s
  • 2020s
Defence

Defence

Read more
Government

Government

Read more
Infrastructure

Infrastructure

Read more

  • Copyright © 2023 DPS
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy