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History

1961 McConnell Dowell is formed by two entrepreneurial New Zealand engineers Malcolm McConnell and Jim Dowell.
1965 A massive step forward when the company wins the contract for the Marsden Point off-shore circulatory water cooling system, then the largest submarine pipeline in New Zealand. The design solution was a world first in marine technology.
1968 New opportunities emerge from New Zealand's natural gas resources. Construction contracts on the Kapuni natural gas pipeline confirm the company's on-shore pipeline capabilities.
1971 The first overseas office is established, with an independent company in Singapore.
1972 Specialist skills in sand slurry pipelines are developed with an innovative system to pump iron sands via twin pipelines into ships moored off the rugged west coast of New Zealand.
1972 Melbourne's Yarra River gas pipeline crossing gives McConnell Dowell a springboard into Australia, and is the first of a number of major pipeline projects in this country.
1974 Asian operations expand to Hong Kong. The same year, P.T. McConnell Dowell is registered as a joint venture company in Indonesia.
1975 McConnell Dowell, in JV with Italy's Saipem, commence construction of the Oanui and Maui pipeline from Huntly gas pipeline in the north island of New Zealand. The 300 km x 34 inch diameter pipeline through difficult terrain is a significant milestone in the Company's big inch pipelining.
1977 The first Middle East office is opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
1978 Asian operations are boosted with a new company in Malaysia.
1982 The expansion of New Zealand's Marsden Point Oil Refinery establishes McConnell Dowell as a multi-discipline contractor.
1983 The 480 km oil pipeline Jackson Blairmore section of the Jackson Moonie pipeline project, Queensland, completed in just over six months, establishes McConnell Dowell as the leading pipeline company in SE Asia.
1985 Electrix, an electrical installation and maintenance company, is purchased, enhancing McConnell Dowell's total construction, electrical and maintenance capability.
1986 The 550 km 14 inch diameter gas pipeline, middle spread of the Alice Springs to Darwin completed in six months.
1989 First project in Thailand - pipeline project for Thailand's oil and gas company PTT.
1992 The awarding of the Kutubu oil pipeline contract in Papua New Guinea consolidates the company's reputation as an international expert in remote location projects.
1993 McConnell Dowell (Thailand) Ltd established.
1994 McConnell Dowell wins a multi-discipline design and construct (D&C) contract with Si Chang Thong Terminal Company for a deep sea oil terminal and tankfarm in Thailand.
1995 An Institute of Engineers Australia Award for excellence is presented for work on the Blue Mountains Sewerage Transfer Scheme, in which three world records were set for tunnelling.
1996 The company wins its first contract in the former USSR, with a 227 km oil pipeline from Sangachaly to Shirvanovka on the Russian border.
1996 The 850 km Mt Isa Queensland Australia gas pipeline completed in record time of less than six months.
1997 McConnell Dowell Thailand start construction of a US$320 million polyethylene plant for DOW Chemicals and Siam Cement in Mapta Phut Thailand. This multidiscipline project was completed ahead of time and budget despite the Asian financial crisis.
1998 McConnell Dowell Saudi Arabia starts design and on-site construction for Riyadh Refinery, DCS Upgrade, an electrical and instrumentation EPC project, with control buildings and civil works, for the major oil and gas producer Saudi Aramco.
1999 McConnell Dowell rises from 104 to 80 in world rankings for revenues earned on international contracts according to the US journal Engineering News Review.
1999 World-ranking expertise in sand transportation is recognised when the NSW and Queensland governments award a contract for the design, construction and operation for 25 years of a sand bypass system at the mouth of the Tweed River.
2000 The Company's first project in Taiwan is awarded, involving construction of a power station cooling water outfall.
2000 One of the largest jetty developments in the southern hemisphere, the Very Large Crude Carrier project in Singapore, involves civil, mechanical and pipelines in a joint venture contract.
2000 McConnell Dowell purchases the UK-based Stockton Pipelines, a specialist horizontal directional drilling company.
2000 Trevor Morgan retires as CEO of McConnell Dowell Corporation Ltd. David Robinson is appointed by the Board as the new CEO of McConnell Dowell Corporation Ltd. David Robinson has a civil engineering degree and joined McConnell Dowell in 1978. He has progressed through the Company as Project Manager, Construction Manager and General Manager - Civil.
2001 McConnell Dowell wins its first project in Vietnam for many years with the BP Exploration for the construction of a Gas Treatment Plant and pipelines at Dinh Co in Southern Vietnam.
2001 The Company officially opens its UK branch - McConnell Dowell (UK) Limited in Sheffield with two substantial pipeline contracts in tow for British Gas (Transco) in the UK.
2001 McConnell Dowell wins the Biomass Facility Project in Sydney for EarthPower Technologies to convert food waste into bio-gass and organic fertiliser, a first of its kind in Australia.
2001 The Company receives the prestigious National Case Earth Award Runners-Up Certificate for the Tweed River Sand Bypassing Project's permanent sand restoration system for its engineering innovation and environmental excellence.
2001 McConnell Dowell opens its doors in Perth, Western Australia and subsequently secures the Cockburn Unit 1 Power Station civil and building services works at Kwinana for Alstom Power.
2001 The Company wins its first contract in the African Continent in joint venture with its shareholder, being the US$250 million Mozambique to South African Natural Gas Pipeline for Sasol Ltd.
2002 Dutco McConnell Dowell Middle East LLC is awarded the Kestral Project Mechanical Installation works
for Smelter pot lines by Dubai Aluminium Limited (DUBAL).
2002 McConnell Dowell's Tweed River Entrance Sand Bypassing Project is announced as the Queensland Project of the Year by the Australian Institute.
2002 William Porter, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary retires after 15 years service.
Dale Morrison is appointed as his successor.
2003 Gas Engineers awards Stockton Pipelines (100% McConnell Dowell subsidiary) outstanding design achievement for completing the longest rock crossing in Europe, a 1500m crossing under the River Severn.
2003 Gasnet awards McConnell Dowell the EPC 442 km 250 mm dia gas pipeline from Port Hedland to Telfer Gold-Copper mine for Newcrest, Western Australia.
2004 Hamersley Iron, a subsiduary of Rio Tinto, awards McConnell Dowell, in joint venture, the contract for the Dampier iron ore load-out wharf upgrade in Western Australia
2004 Centennial Coal award McConnell Dowell the Delta Decline contract at their Mandalong Coal Mine, NSW
2005 Frank Crowley, Chairman of McConnell Dowell and Executive Director of Aveng in South Africa retires. Frank served 34 years out of his 37-year career with Aveng and was on McConnell Dowell's Board since 1999. Carl Grim, Chief Executive Officer of Aveng, is appointed as McConnell Dowell's new Chairman.
2005 McConnell Dowell's Victorian Branch is awarded the Case Earth Award for Construction Excellence for the Narre Warren Cranbourne Road Duplication and Grade Separation project which has set new benchmarks in rail bridge construction while delivering a vital upgrade to a busy road and rail interchange.
2005 McConnell Dowell, in Joint Venture, is awarded the contract by Goro Nickel S.A.S. for the construction of new port facilities as part of the Goro Nickel Project in New Caledonia. The scope of work includes the construction of two new wharves, a new General Cargo wharf and a Bulk Berth, as well as a Barge Ramp and Port Container Yard.
2005 McConnell Dowell, in Joint Venture, is awarded the contract for the design and construct of the marine facilities for Hin Leong Trading Pty Ltd. This Project is the largest single Marine Terminal to be constructed in Singapore and consists of 12 Jetties, ranging in size from 5000DWT to 320,000DWT, as well as dredging works and a 1km long seawall.
2005 McConnell Dowell is awarded the construction contract for the 217km Burdekin to Moranbah raw water pipeline in Northern Queensland by SunWater.
2006 McConnell Dowell is chosen as one of the preferred Alliance Partners for the design and construction of the Southern Regional Water Pipeline Project, South East Queensland.
2006 McConnell Dowell is awarded the stage one contract for the Common User Facility (CUF) Project by Port Adelaide Maritime Corporation (PAMC), South Australia. This early stage work is critical to delivery of world-class $6bn infrastructure development at Techport Australia.
2006 McConnell Dowell is awarded a Design & Construction Contract for the Bogong Hydro Power Project by AGL Southern Hydro. Once completed, this will be the largest hydro power project to be constructed in Australia in 25 years.
2006 McConnell Dowell is awarded the Christchurch Ocean Outfall contract in New Zealand, based on our ability to offer our Client’s complete conventional and trenchless solutions.
2007 McConnell Dowell is awarded Sydney Desalination Plant Pipeline Construction project.
2007 McConnell Dowell wins Engineering Excellence Award for Lorne Pier Reconstruction Project.
2007 McConnell Dowell is awarded Western Sydney Recycling Project.
2007 McConnell Dowell is awarded Vopak Marine Terminal Jetty 5 project, Jurong Island, Singapore.
2007 McConnell Dowell is awarded for Seawall & Reclamation Works project, Resorts World at Sentosa.
2008 McConnell Dowell receives Industry Award for Southern Regional Water Pipeline Alliance, Queensland, Australia.
2008 McConnell Dowell is awarded Pilbara Iron Ore Infrastructure Project, Western Australia.
2008 Three McConnell Dowell projects win regional CCF Earth Awards: Bakewell Underpass, SA; Meander Dam, Tas and Pilbara Iron Ore Infrastructure Project, WA.
2008 The Aveng board announces the appointment of Roger Jardine as Chief Executive Officer, filling a position left vacant by Carl Grim, who retired earlier in the year.
2008 McConnell Dowell acquires South Australian company, Built Environs.
2008 Bakewell Underpass wins National Division of CCF Earth Awards.
2008 McConnell Dowell is awarded Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) Concourse redevelopment project, Victoria.
2008 McConnell Dowell is awarded DBNGP Stage 5B Looping Project, Western Australia.
2008 McConnell Dowell is awarded Rapid Growth Project 5, Port Hedland, Western Australia
2009 McConnell Dowell is awarded Adelaide Desalination Plant and Transfer Pipeline Projects, South Australia.
2009 McConnell Dowell is awarded Downtown Line 2 Contract 916 Project, Singapore.
2009 McConnell Dowell is awarded Waterfront Promenade at Marina Bay Project, Singapore.
2010 McConnell Dowell receives 26 safety awards and 6 construction awards
2010 Built Environs was named the South Australian Commercial Builder of the year
2010 Built Environs is awarded the Adelaide Oval Western Grandstand Redevelopment (South Australia)
2010 McConnell Dowell is awarded Rapid Growth Project 6, Port Hedland, Western Australia
2010 McConnell Dowell secured the Early Works contract for the APLNG gas pipeline
2011 McConnell Dowell Celebrates its 50 year anniversary 1961 - 2011
2011 The Overseas Construction Group achieves 15 million man hours with no fatalities and LTI free
2011 McConnell Dowell, in joint venture, is awarded marine works for the Hay Point Coal Loadout Facility expansion
2011 McConnell Dowell is awarded design and construct partner for the Gold Coast Rapid Transit Project (Queensland)
2011 McConnell Dowell is awarded the Waterview Connection project (Auckland), as part of an Alliance.
2011 The Ambuklao and Binga hydropower plants are successfully commissioned, Philippines.
2011 The Barwon Heads Bridge project was awarded the Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) Category 4 National Award

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