Timeline
2026
- Whangarei Branch, New Zealand opens on 2 February 2026
- Acquired Solution Plant Hire, expanding fleet depth and establishing Earthmoving & Compaction in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Newcastle.
- Shepparton Branch, Australia opens 23 February 2026
- Gympie Branch, Australia opens on 25 May 2026
2025
- Craigieburn Branch, Victoria opens 6 May 2025
- Peter Lancken AM inducted into the American Rental Association Hall of Fame in January 2025
- New Plymouth Branch, New Zealand opens 20 January 2025 following the acquisition of Kiwi Hire.
2024
- Ballina Branch, NSW opens 11 November following the acquisition of Betta Hire
- Moss Vale Branch, NSW opens 14 October following the acquisition of MV Hire
- Andrea Martens - Kennards Hire Board Director (September 2024 - current)
- New Chair Margie Haseltine appointed (September 2024 - current)
- Napier Branch, New Zealand opens on 5 August
- Melton Branch, VIC opens 29 July following the acquisition of Melton U Hire
- Bairnsdale Branch, VIC opens 8 April following the acquisitions of East Gippsland Hire and Riviera Hire
2023
- Victor Harbour Branch, SA opens on 27 November following the acquisition of A1 Hire
- Ballarat Branch, VIC opens 20 November
- Morwell Branch, VIC officially takes the title of Kennards Hire’s 200th branch
- Wonthaggi, Sale and Morwell, VIC open on 9 October following the acquisitions of ProRent and CanDo Hire
- Albany Branch, WA opens on 9 October following the acquisition of Bertola Hire
- Taupo Branch, New Zealand opens on 2 October following the acquisition of Taupo Hire
- Inverell Branch, NSW opens on 28 August following the acquisition of McNeil’s Hire
- Bendigo Branch, VIC opens on 10 July following the acquisition of Bendigo Hire
- On 5 April, Kennards Hire celebrates 75 years as a family-owned business
2022
- Geraldton Branch, WA opens on 14 March following the acquisition of Redi Hire Solutions
- Rangiora Branch, New Zealand opens on 4 July following the acquisition of Rangiora Hire
- Belfast Branch, New Zealand opens on 3 October following the acquisition of Smiths Hire
- Margie Haseltine - Kennards Hire Board Director (2022 - current)
- Kennards Hire Access, NT opens on 31 October following the acquisition of Top End Access Hire
2021
- Smeaton Grange Branch, NSW opens 20 January
- Katherine Branch, NT opens 3 August
- Kennards Hire Dunedin Branch wins HIANZ ‘Gold Award’
- Lismore Branch, NSW opens on 27 September following the acquisition of Northern Rivers Hire
- Parkes Branch, NSW opens on 27 September
- Griffith Branch, NSW opens on 25 October following the acquisition of Griffith City Hire
2020
- Mornington Branch, VIC opens on 2 January
- Bill Whitehouse appointed as CEO (March 2020 – current)
- Mount Maunganui Branch, New Zealand opens 8 June
- Rory Kennard – Kennards Hire Board Director (2020 - current)
2019
- Heatherbrae Branch, NSW opens on 2 January following the acquisition of Nielsen Hire
- Westgate Branch, New Zealand opens 5 March
- Victorian Branch network expansion – Airport West, Port Melbourne, South Melbourne and Abbotsford (new and upgraded branches)
- Roxby Downs Branch, SA opens on 12 August
- Angus Kennard awarded National Sustained Excellence Award at the 2019 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards™
- Kalgoorlie Branch, WA opens on 4 November
2018
- Opened new branches in QLD (Toowoomba, Caloundra, Morayfield), VIC (Ravenhall, North Geelong), NSW (Byron Bay, Tamworth), NZ (Lower Hutt, Queenstown, Invercargill, Hornby, Ashburton)
- Kennards Hire celebrates 70 years in business
- Third Supplier Awards night held. JLG Industries awarded Australian ‘Supplier of the Year’, Hilti New Zealand awarded NZ ‘Supplier of the Year’
- Kennards Hire Foundation launches with inaugural $7million gift to children’s and environmental charities
- 7th Place in Australia’s Best Place to Work Awards (over 1,000 employees)
- AS/NZS 4801 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems certification (all 170+ branches)
- Andy Kennard inducted as Life Member into FBA Hall of Fame
- Acquired Power Distribution Rentals
2017
- Almost 170 branches and 1,500 employees across Australia and New Zealand
- Kennards Hire Hamilton Branch wins HIANZ ‘Gold Award’
2016
- New Chairman Brendan Fleiter appointed (2016 - 2024)
- Kennards Hire website activates online hire bookings
- Angus Kennard appointed as CEO (October 2016 – March 2020)
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
- The Kennards Hire 'Why' Safety program rolled out
- Kennards Hire awarded Hire and Rental Industry Association (HRIA) Company of the Year award
- Peter Lancken awarded ARA Distinguished Service Award in 2014
- Specialist businesses now trade and are unified under the Kennards Hire brand
- 1,000 employees
- 150 branches and 1,100 employees
- Kennards Hire receives distinguished Family Business of the Year award from the FBA
- Kennards Hire inducted into the Family Business Association (FBA) Hall of Fame
- Acquired GI Hire in Panmure (North Island) and three Christchurch branches as part of the City Hire acquisition (South Island) in New Zealand
2013
- New QR Code technology introduced for all equipment, allowing access to detailed product information in the field
- Rail division commenced in Australia and Concrete Care and Lift & Shift are introduced into New Zealand
- Test and Measure division commenced and Customer Call Centre rolled out
- First Supplier Awards night held. Hilti Australia awarded ‘Supplier of the Year’
2012
- Kennards Hire acquires Concrete Care
- Allen Besseling is appointed CEO (2012- 2015)
- Neville Kennard passes away
- Acquired McEntee Hire adding Auckland City, Albany, Silverdale, Henderson, Manukau, Papakura, Onehunga, Pukekohe and East Tamaki to the New Zealand network
2011
- Peter Lancken appointed Chairman (2011 – 2016)
- Kirsty Kovacs (nee Kennard) – Kennards Hire Board Director (2011 – 2021)
2010
- Kennards Hire acquires Lift & Shift
- Pump & Power division commences in Queensland
2009
- John Tolmie commences as CEO (2009 -2012)
- Traffic division commenced
- Branches open in both Western Australia and Northern Territory
- 100 branches and 900 employees
2008
- Kennards Hire awarded ARA James Keenan Commemorative Award
- Kennards Hire awarded HRIA Hire Company of the Year
2007
- Peter Lancken awarded ‘Meritorious Service Award’ by American Rental Association (ARA)
- 800 employees
- Andy Kennard retires from the board
2005
- Angus Kennard – Kennards Hire Board Director (2005 – 2020)
- 700 employees
2004
- Concrete Care division commenced in partnership with Angus Kennard
- Kennards Hire major logo change and rollout
2003
- Andy Kennard inducted into the American Rental Hall of Fame and a Life Member of the HRIA
- Lift & Shift division commenced in partnership with Allen Besseling
- 600 employees
2001
- Kennards Hire awarded inaugural HRIA National Hire Company of the Year
1998
- 50 branches in 50 years & 500 employees
- Kennards Hire Equity Participation Programme (KHEPP) commenced
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
1970
- Neville Kennard becomes the inaugural president of the Hire Association Australia
- Kennards Hire logo updated
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
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