YEAR |
MONTH |
EVENT |
|
June |
Mount Maunganui Branch, New Zealand opens 8 June |
|
March |
Bill Whitehouse appointed as CEO |
2020 |
January |
Mornington Branch, VIC opens on 2 January |
|
November |
Kalgoorlie Branch, WA opens on 4 November |
|
October |
Angus Kennard awarded National Sustained Excellence Award at the 2019 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards™ |
|
March |
Westgate Branch, New Zealand opens 5 March |
2019 |
August |
Roxby Downs Branch, SA opens on 12 August |
|
July |
Victorian Branch network expansion – Airport West, Port Melbourne, South Melbourne and Abbotsford (new and upgraded branches) |
|
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 (October 2016 – March 2020) |
|
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 |
|
|
Peter Lancken awarded ARA Distinguished Service Award in 2014 |
|
|
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) |
|
December |
Acquired McEntee Hire adding Auckland CIty, Albany, Silverdale, Henderson, Papakura, Onehunga, Pukekohe and East Tamaki to the New Zealand network |
2012 |
June |
Neville Kennard passes away |
|
|
Peter Lancken appointed Chairman (2011 – 2016) |
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 |
|
|
Peter Lancken awarded ‘Special Service Award’ by American Rental Association (ARA) |
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 |
1995 |
|
Peter Lancken appointed CEO (1995 – 2009) and Executive Director (current) |
|
|
Peter Lancken starts with Kennards Hire |
1994 |
|
Kennards Hire acquires GKN2 (seven NSW branches / three ACT branches) |
1992 |
|
Kennards Hire acquires GKN1 (five NSW branches / three QLD branches) |
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 |