The bright orange and yellow “F” logo of Fairbrother, regularly visible on construction sites all over Tasmania, is soon to become a fixture in regional Victoria. This week Fairbrother Pty Ltd announced the company is expanding into the Victorian market via the acquisition of Bendigo-based commercial construction company Morey & Hurford.

Fairbrother CEO, Craig Edmunds, described the acquisition as a major step forward for Fairbrother, “We have a long-term plan to expand into regional Australia and the acquisition of Morey & Hurford is the first step towards achieving this goal.”

Morey & Hurford have been operating in central and northern Victoria for nearly 20 years, and with an annual turnover of some $30 million and in excess of 40 employees they are the largest commercial construction company in central Victoria.

After announcing the acquisition to Fairbrother employees, Edmunds said, “The Morey & Hurford business has strong synergies with our business. Like Fairbrother they directly employ their workforce, have a strong commitment to quality, and share a very similar culture and set of values.”

The acquisition has been welcomed by Morey & Hurford co-founders, Chris Morey and Terry Hurford. Hurford reports, “Chris and I take much pride in the business and opportunities we have created for our employees, but as we look to retire in coming years, the company’s future has been uncertain. Now, as part of the Fairbrother Group, we are fully confident the business will grow and prosper long into the future.”

For Morey & Hurford there will be considerable benefits in becoming part of the Fairbrother Group, including access to the employee initiatives that saw Fairbrother recognised as a Tasmanian Employer of Choice in 2007, such as company wide training and development programs, an industry leading apprenticeship scheme, company health & wellbeing program and career development opportunities. Fairbrother HR Manager Matt Clement reports, “Our employees will now have the opportunity to gain valuable experience in another market, while Fairbrother will benefit from the sharing of experience and knowledge.”

The acquisition of Morey & Hurford is the second major acquisition by Fairbrother, who also acquired Tasmania’s largest mechanical services and refrigeration company, Degree C, in 2006.

With this latest acquisition, Fairbrother now employs some 440 people across two states and turns over some $135 million annually.

Edmunds emphasizes, “Fairbrother are now much more than just a construction and joinery company. While our construction division remains our largest, our Facility Management and Maintenance and Development Divisions are growing arms of the business. And under the Degree C banner we provide an extensive suite of services that includes mechanical, refrigeration, air-conditioning, electrical, and sheet metal works.”

Contact:

Gaye Rutherford
Health & Communications Manager
Fairbrother Group
Phone: (03) 6220 9032 Mobile: 0409 149 247
Email: grutherford@fairbrother.com.au