Historical Timeline
| YEAR | MONTH | EVENT |
| 2019 | January |
Heatherbrae Branch, NSW opens on 2 January following the acquisition of Nielsen Hire |
| 2018 |
Opened new branches in QLD (Toowoomba, Caloundra, Morayfield), VIC (Ravenhall, North Geelong), NSW (Byron Bay, Tamworth), NZ (Lower Hutt, Queenstown, Invercargill, Hornby, Ashburton) |
|
|
Andy Kennard inducted as Life Member into FBA Hall of Fame |
||
|
Kennards Hire celebrates 70 years in business |
||
| October |
Acquired Power Distribution Rentals |
|
| September |
AS/NZS 4801 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems certification (all 170+ branches) |
|
| August |
7th Place in Australia’s Best Place to Work Awards (over 1,000 employees) |
|
| June |
Kennards Hire Foundation launches with inaugural $7million gift to children’s and environmental charities |
|
| April |
Third Supplier Awards night held. JLG Industries awarded Australian ‘Supplier of the Year’, Hilti New Zealand awarded NZ ‘Supplier of the Year’ |
|
| 2017 | HIANZ Gold Award – Hamilton Branch | |
| Almost 170 branches and 1,500 employees across Australia and New Zealand | ||
| 2016 | October | Angus Kennard appointed as CEO |
| July | Kennards Hire website activates online hire bookings | |
| February | New Chairman Brendan Fleiter appointed | |
| 2015 | Kennards Hire Albany Branch wins HIANZ Hire Company of the Year Award | |
| Second Supplier Awards night held. Hilti Australia again awarded ‘Supplier of the Year’ | ||
| 2014 | Specialist businesses now trade and are unified under the Kennards Hire brand | |
| Kennards Hire awarded Hire and Rental Industry Association (HRIA) Company of the Year award | ||
| The Kennards Hire "Why" Safety program rolled out | ||
| November | Kennards Hire inducted into the Family Business Association (FBA) Hall of Fame | |
| September | Kennards Hire receives distinguished Family Business of the Year award from the FBA | |
| September | 150 branches and 1,100 employees | |
| July | 1,000 employees | |
| 2013 | November | Test and Measure division commenced and Customer Call Centre rolled out |
| April | Rail division commenced and Kennards Hire expands and into New Zealand | |
| First Bi-Annual Supplier Awards night held. Hilti Australia awarded ‘Supplier of the Year’ | ||
| New QR Code technology introduced for all equipment. Allowing access to detailed product information in the field | ||
| 2012 | Allen Besseling is appointed CEO (2012- 2015) | |
| 2012 | June | Neville Kennard passes away |
| 2011 | Kennards Hire acquires Concrete Care | |
| 2010 | Kennards Hire acquires Lift & Shift | |
| 2010 | July | Pump & Power division commences in Queensland |
| 100 branches and 900 employees | ||
| Branches open in both Western Australia and Northern Territory | ||
| 2009 | Traffic division commenced | |
| John Tolmie commences as CEO (2009 -2012) | ||
| 2008 | May | Kennards Hire awarded HRIA Hire Company of the Year |
| 2007 | Andy Kennard retires from the board | |
| May | 800 employees | |
| 2005 | Oct | Angus Kennard appointed third generation Non Executive Director |
| 2005 | June | 700 employees |
| 2004 | Aug | Kennards Hire major logo change and rollout |
| 2004 | Mar | Concrete Care division commenced |
| 2003 | Andy Kennard inducted into the American Rental Hall of Fame and a Life Member of the HRIA | |
| Nov | 600 employees | |
| January | Lift & Shift division commenced | |
| 2001 | May | Kennards Hire awarded inaugural HRIA National Hire Company of the Year |
| March | Kennards Hire Equity Participation Programme (KHEPP) commenced | |
| January | 500 employees | |
| 1998 | 50 branches in 50 years | |
| 1996 | Angus Kennard starts at Kennards Hire | |
| 1991 | Neville and Andy Kennard separate their business interests (Andy retains Kennards Hire and Neville moves over to what later becomes Kennards Self-Storage | |
| 1984 | Kennards Hire logo is updated and "Make Your Job Easy" slogan introduced | |
| 1979 | Kennards Mini Storage changes name to Easi Stor | |
| 1976 | Andy Kennard becomes president of the Hire Association of NSW (1976 - 1979) | |
| 1972 | Kennards pioneered mechanical access equipment in Australia with 2 Get Smart 15' scissor lifts | |
| Kennards Hire logo updated | ||
| 1970 | Neville Kennard becomes the inaugural president of the Hire Association Australia | |
| 1969 | Quality Control Checks commenced | |
| 1967 | Neville Kennard becomes founding president of the Hire Association | |
| 1966 | First Kennards Hire logo introduced | |
| 1965 | Andy Kennard joins the business | |
| Truck rental introduced - Falcon utes and Ford F350 vans | ||
| 1957 | Neville Kennard joins the business | |
| 1951 | Wally and the family move to Sydney and trade out of the family garage under W. Kennard Agencies | |
| 1948 | Wally Kennard starts hiring from 142 Russell Street, Bathurst, NSW under W. Kennard & Company |
