BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS
SINCE 1912

E.B. (Barney) Mawson started as a contractor cutting thistles for the Kerang Shire after moving to Koondrook, then Cohuna after leaving Marong’s goldfields. He also worked with his father Charles and brother Bill in the Gunbower forest, cutting wood and providing cartage services.

Charles Mawson passed away, leaving Barney and Bill to continue their contracting business, which involved wood cutting, farm work, fencing and cartage, until 1927.

The Mawson Bros. Partnership was dissolved. Barney and Bill sold their assets, including an 8 HP steam engine and 15 draught horses. Barney used his share to invest in a new Chevrolet truck for contracting work, replacing wooden horse-drawn drays.

Mawsons embraced new technology, using a diesel-powered truck and hydraulic loader, marking the first of their kind in the region. The business also expanded into market gardening with glasshouses, employing local workers to grow vegetables for Melbourne markets.

World War II created both challenges and opportunities. Some of Mawsons' equipment was commandeered by the Government, leading to the use of gas-fueled trucks. The business continued to grow through charcoal production, firewood delivery, and roadwork contracts.

Mawsons purchased the Mount Hope Quarry, marking the company's entry into quarrying. Later, they acquired Pyramid Quarries in 1952, further expanding stone supply operations.

Mawsons joined forces with Ted Lightfoot to develop the Lake Boga Quarry, consolidating their quarry operations by closing Mount Hope.

Mawsons entered a joint venture to reopen the Mount Burrumboot (now Lake Cooper) Quarry, further expanding their stone supply capabilities.

Mawsons began concrete production, opening small batch plants in Cohuna and Kerang, supported by their growing fleet of trucks.

The company continued its expansion, purchasing Glenrowan Quarry and other concrete plants in Wangaratta and Benalla. By this time, Mawsons operated a substantial civil construction fleet and was heavily involved in road building and irrigation projects.

Mawsons expanded their concrete operations with acquisitions in Swan Hill, Echuca, and opened a greenfield site in Barham, strengthening their regional presence.

The largest acquisition at the time was the purchase of Yabba North, Chesneyvale Quarries, and Wren Transport, tightening the network of quarries along the Murray Valley.

Mawsons expanded into Shepparton, acquiring Supermix Concrete and further enhancing the quarry and concrete plant operations.

Mawsons teamed with CSIRO to develop Granitgard, a non-toxic termite barrier using reprocessed quarry dust, marking a move into innovative product development.

Mawsons expanded their concrete network by acquiring plants in Deniliquin, Numurkah, Tongala, and Cobram, strengthening their central and eastern clusters.

Mawsons continued to grow with acquisitions in Bendigo, Castlemaine, Tocumwal, Mildura and Rochester.

A pivotal moment in Mawsons’ history as Adelaide Brighton (Adbri) acquired a 50% stake in the company. This transformative partnership marked the beginning of a new era, combining Mawsons’ deep regional expertise and strong local presence with Adbri’s national reach and industry leadership.

Mawsons expanded further into Seymour and Broken Hill, adding more quarries and concrete plants to their portfolio.

Mawsons celebrated 100 years in business, continuing their legacy of innovation, growth, and commitment to the communities they serve.

A landmark year of growth as Mawsons significantly expanded its footprint through strategic acquisitions. The company strengthened its presence in the Victorian High Country by acquiring Ovens and Keiwa operations across Myrtleford, Porepunkah, Mt Hotham, and Whorouly. This expansion was complemented by the acquisition of Mansfield Quarry, adding another vital resource to the company’s portfolio. The purchase of Barham Truck and Tractor (now Mawsons Mechanical) demonstrated Mawsons’ commitment to vertical integration, while the addition of Berrigan Quarry further solidified its presence in Southern NSW.

Mawsons purchase Seymour Quarry and Concrete Plant from Central Premix & Quarries, strengthening the company’s ability to serve the growing central Victorian market.

Mawsons acquires key sites in Nagambie, Shepparton and Moama, through the purchase of Country Concrete. The company further expanded its concrete network by purchasing the well-established Heathcote & Kyneton Concrete sites from the Prendergast Family.

Mawsons established a strong presence in the Wangaratta region with the introduction of Wangaratta Country Concrete, after buying Wangaratta Precast’s readymix business, bringing their expertise & quality concrete solutions to this vibrant regional centre.

The company’s growth continued with the acquisition of the Robinvale Concrete from Peter & Sean Smith, further expanding Mawsons’ ability to serve communities along the Murray River and strengthening its presence in the region.

A significant milestone as Mawsons Mechanical relocated to a new, purpose-built, state-of-the-art facility in Cohuna, showcasing the company’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence in equipment maintenance and repair services.

A transformative year marked by the joining of Milbrae and Mawsons, combining two respected names in the industry to create an even stronger presence in the quarrying & construction materials sector across Southern NSW.

Mawsons expanded its concrete operations through the acquisition of Alex Pre Mix, incorporating the Alexandra and Yea Concrete Plants into its network, thus further strengthening its presence in the Goulburn Valley region.

The establishment of Warby Bluestone Quarry at Glenrowan marked another expansion of Mawsons’ quarrying operations. 2024 also saw a significant industry development with global construction giant CRH acquiring a controlling interest in AdBri, signalling new opportunities & changes in the regional Australian construction materials landscape.