| YEAR |
MONTH |
EVENT |
| 2022 |
March |
Geraldton Branch, WA opens on 14 March following the acquisition of Redi Hire Solutions |
| |
October |
Griffith Branch, NSW opens on 25 October following the acquisition of Griffith City Hire |
| |
September |
Parkes Branch, NSW opens on 27 September |
| |
September |
Lismore Branch, NSW opens on 27 September following the acquisition of Northern Rivers Hire |
| |
August |
HIANZ Gold Award - Dunedin Branch |
| |
August |
Katherine Branch, NT opens 3 August |
| 2021 |
January |
Smeaton Grange Branch, NSW opens 20 January |
| |
July |
Rory Kennard – Kennards Hire Board Director (2020 - current) |
| |
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™ |
| |
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) |
| |
March |
Westgate Branch, New Zealand opens 5 March |
| 2019 |
January |
Heatherbrae Branch, NSW opens on 2 January following the acquisition of Nielsen Hire |
| |
October |
Acquired Power Distribution Rentals |
| |
September |
Andy Kennard inducted as Life Member into FBA Hall of Fame |
| |
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’ |
| |
April |
Kennards Hire celebrates 70 years in business |
| 2018 |
|
Opened new branches in QLD (Toowoomba, Caloundra, Morayfield), VIC (Ravenhall, North Geelong), NSW (Byron Bay, Tamworth), NZ (Lower Hutt, Queenstown, Invercargill, Hornby, Ashburton) |
| |
August |
HIANZ Gold Award – Hamilton Branch |
| 2017 |
|
Almost 170 branches and 1,500 employees across Australia and New Zealand |
| |
October |
Angus Kennard appointed as CEO (October 2016 – March 2020) |
| |
July |
Kennards Hire website activates online hire bookings |
| 2016 |
February |
New Chairman Brendan Fleiter appointed |
| |
November |
Second Supplier Awards night held. Hilti Australia again awarded ‘Supplier of the Year’ |
| 2015 |
October |
Kennards Hire Albany Branch wins HIANZ Hire Company of the Year Award |
| |
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 |
| |
June |
Specialist businesses now trade and are unified under the Kennards Hire brand |
| |
February |
Peter Lancken awarded ARA Distinguished Service Award in 2014 |
| |
|
Kennards Hire awarded Hire and Rental Industry Association (HRIA) Company of the Year award |
| 2014 |
|
The Kennards Hire "Why" Safety program rolled out |
| |
September |
First Supplier Awards night held. Hilti Australia awarded ‘Supplier of the Year’ |
| |
November |
Test and Measure division commenced and Customer Call Centre rolled out |
| |
April |
Rail division commenced and Kennards Hire expands and into New Zealand |
| 2013 |
January |
New QR Code technology introduced for all equipment. Allowing access to detailed product information in the field |
| |
December |
Acquired McEntee Hire adding Auckland CIty, Albany, Silverdale, Henderson, Papakura, Onehunga, Pukekohe and East Tamaki to the New Zealand network |
| |
June |
Neville Kennard passes away |
| |
|
Allen Besseling is appointed CEO (2012- 2015) |
| 2012 |
|
Kennards Hire acquires Concrete Care |
| |
February |
Kirsty Kovacs (nee Kennard) – Kennards Hire Board Director (2011 – 2021) |
| 2011 |
|
Peter Lancken appointed Chairman (2011 – 2016) |
| |
July |
Pump & Power division commences in Queensland |
| 2010 |
|
Kennards Hire acquires Lift & Shift |
| |
|
100 branches and 900 employees |
| |
|
Branches open in both Western Australia and Northern Territory |
| |
|
Traffic division commenced |
| 2009 |
|
John Tolmie commences as CEO (2009 -2012) |
| |
May |
Kennards Hire awarded HRIA Hire Company of the Year |
| 2008 |
|
Kennards Hire awarded ARA James Keenan Commemorative Award |
| |
June |
Andy Kennard retires from the board |
| |
May |
800 employees |
| 2007 |
|
Peter Lancken awarded ‘Meritorious Service Award’ by American Rental Association (ARA) |
| |
June |
700 employees |
| 2005 |
|
Angus Kennard – Kennards Hire Board Director (2005 – 2020) |
| |
Aug |
Kennards Hire major logo change and rollout |
| 2004 |
Mar |
Concrete Care division commenced in partnership with Angus Kennard |
| |
Nov |
600 employees |
| |
January |
Lift & Shift division commenced in partnership with Allen Besseling |
| 2003 |
|
Andy Kennard inducted into the American Rental Hall of Fame and a Life Member of the HRIA |
| 2001 |
May |
Kennards Hire awarded inaugural HRIA National Hire Company of the Year |
| |
March |
Kennards Hire Equity Participation Programme (KHEPP) commenced |
| 1998 |
|
50 branches in 50 years & 500 employees |
| 1996 |
|
Angus Kennard starts at Kennards Hire |
| 1995 |
|
Peter Lancken appointed CEO (1995 – 2009) and Executive Director (current) |
| 1994 |
|
Kennards Hire acquires GKN2 (seven NSW branches / three ACT branches) & Peter Lancken starts with Kennards Hire |
| 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 of NSW (1967 - 1970) |
| 1966 |
|
First Kennards Hire logo introduced |
| |
|
Truck rental introduced - Falcon utes and Ford F350 vans |
| 1965 |
|
Andy Kennard joins the business |
| 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 |
