Building Surge is Proving Good News for new Darwin Rental Firm

Saturday 29 September 2018 @ 09:58

A spike in construction in Darwin and Palmerston is creating plenty of business for recently launched general hire company Darwin Hire, according to Managing Director Glenn Broadway.

For example, non-residential building approvals increased in Darwin by 44.8% in 2017 based on a 3-year moving average, according to a recent report composed for the NT government1.

100% Genie blue

Launched in January 2018, by Glenn and business partner Wesley Harders, Darwin Hire’s access equipment fleet is reliant 100% on Genie machines. Glenn explains, “The fleet ranges from a Genie® GS™-1932 scissor lift through to a Genie TZ™-50 trailer mounted boom, and onto a Genie GS-3369 RT rough terrain scissor lift and more.”

Glenn, who migrated to Darwin in 1987 from Victoria, previously owned and operated another Darwin hire company. “I’ve been in Darwin’s hire access industry for 16 years, and I have worked with several different companies before taking on my own business which I sold in 2016,” says the Darwin Hire MD.

After operating outside the industry for a couple of years in the wake of the sale, Darwin’s surging business levels became impossible for Glenn to ignore. He admits, “There was just too much going on in Darwin for me to stay away.

“We know so many people in the building industry, and that is what enticed us back to the hire business. I knew I’d get plenty of support from people I dealt with in the past.”

Broad geographic spread

Despite having a brand name heavily allied to the NT capital, Darwin Hire’s service tentacles stretch to the satellite city of Palmerston and as far away as Katherine, which is 320 km south-east of Darwin, according to Ryan Whyte, Branch Manager, Darwin Hire.

The experienced Ryan, who has been in the hire industry for ten years and has managed several hire companies, including Glenn’s previous business between 2012-2016, added, “We can service the Tiwi Islands, Groote Eylandt and Gove as well.”

Darwin Hire is supporting contractors such as builders, electricians and painters with all its access equipment currently out on hire around the clock, noted Ryan. “Most of the local projects in the Territory go to local tradespeople, and we do our best to work in with these businesses.”

Genie gets a big tick from Darwin Hire

Glenn has been collaborating with Genie for 10 years, and it’s the reliability of the AWP leader’s equipment, combined with its outstanding levels of after-service support and timely access to parts that help to win his patronage consistently.

“The accessibility of Genie parts is crucial to us. We can make a call one day, and the parts will be with us the next day,” he says. “This straightforward access to parts is a significant benefit of having a Genie branch here in Darwin, which has made life a lot easier for us.

“It also helps that we have a great relationship with our Genie regional manager, Richard Gannon, who is always responsive to our requests.”

1 https://www.darwin.nt.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/attachments/darwin_economic_outlook_2017_-_final_report_-_may_2017.pdf

Darwin Hire