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The story of a small family owned,
Esperance based business, which became the major, regionally owned and operated
transport Company in Western Australia.
From the 1960’s the Esperance
Township grew and became an Agricultural supply centre. This created a need for
the community and this foresight gave Pancho Harding the opportunity to
establish a local freight Company. By the 1980’s Pancho Harding had established
a “fresh fruit and vegetable” freight business.
In 1989 Pancho decided to sell this
business to his daughter and son-in-law, Peter and Deb Brown. Peter & Deb ran
the business for the next 14 years, along the way acquiring a number of small
Esperance based freight businesses. Amongst the acquisitions was Esperance
Freight Lines owned by George Hill. This became the vehicle for the development
of a major regional freight business.
In 2003 Michael Harding through his
family trust, in partnership with Colin Danks and his family trust, purchased
Esperance Freight Lines from Peter and Deb Brown. At the time, Michael and Colin
worked in the business and saw the opportunity to “have a go” at developing the
business. With considerable debt in hand, the expansion of Esperance Freight
Lines began.
That was the foundation of the
Company’s history, it is over the next five years the following strategically
and successful building blocks made by Michael & Colin brings us to today’s
successes.
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2005 - Established Jerramungup
Depot
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2006 - Purchased Mantach
Ravensthorpe Transport
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2007 - Acquired the Bulk
Division of Regional Haulage
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Obtained contracts to transport
Fertiliser from Manufacturer’s plants and ship’s to storage facilities in
Esperance
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2008 - Purchased Boss Transport
in Geraldton
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2009 - Contracted with BHP to
become the major freight carrier to establish the Ravensthorpe Mine;
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Commenced transporting Nickel
from Forestonia Mine to Kambalda;
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Established Kalgoorlie Freight
Lines;
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Negotiated a contract with CBH
Group to transport grain from country Bins to the Esperance Port; and
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Contract the loading Bulk
Nickel from port storage to load ships;
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2010 - Established Mattben
Fabrication to manufacture Transport Equipment;
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Negotiated Freight and
Transport Agreements with Galaxy Resources and First Quantum; and
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Michael Harding acquired the
interests of the Danks Family in the Partnership;
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Contracted with Woolworths to freight supplies
to Esperance
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Line haul and distribution Contract with Coke
Cola to Esperance and Kalgoorlie
Today the business employs over 110
staff operates 50 Prime movers, 150 trailers and has turnover in excess of $30m.
The Company’s business base is
diversified and has an even balance between General Freight and Bulk Transport.
There is a further even split with its bulk business reliance on Mining and
Agriculture Industry.
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