Evans Deakin and Company

Evans Deakin and Company was an Australian engineering and shipbuilding enterprise based in Brisbane, Queensland. Established in 1910 by Daniel Edward Evans and Arthur Joseph Deakin, it began as a supplier of engineering equipment before developing into one of Queensland’s important heavy-engineering and transport-manufacturing businesses. Its activities eventually covered railway rolling stock, locomotive manufacture, structural steelwork, shipbuilding and related industrial construction. The company’s early growth was closely connected with Queensland’s industrial and infrastructure development. It acquired its first workshop in 1913 and, during the period between the First and Second World Wars, produced approximately 300 railway wagons for Queensland Government Railways. It also fabricated steel components for Brisbane’s Story Bridge and helped introduce oxy-acetylene and electric-arc welding techniques in Queensland. These capabilities gave the business a foundation in metal fabrication and large-scale industrial production rather than a narrow focus on marine construction. Shipbuilding became the company’s most distinctive activity during the Second World War. At the beginning of the war, Evans Deakin took over the Queensland Government lease of Moar’s Slipway at Kangaroo Point on the Brisbane River and developed the site into a shipyard capable of producing military and merchant vessels. The first vessel announced for construction there was Rocklea, a 1,200-ton oil-fuel lighter for the Royal Australian Navy. The shipyard subsequently produced a broad range of vessels, including Bathurst-class corvettes, a Bay-class frigate, Attack-class patrol boats, cargo steamships, trawlers, bulk carriers, tankers and tugs. The Kangaroo Point yard was expanded substantially in the post-war period. The Frank Nicklin Dry Dock, opened in 1967, was approximately 800 feet long, 115 feet wide and 21 feet deep, and was designed to handle vessels of up to 60,000 tons. The facility strengthened Brisbane’s ability to undertake major ship construction and repair. Evans Deakin also built the oil tanker Robert Miller, described as the largest ship constructed on the Brisbane River. The vessel was almost complete when it broke free from its moorings during the 1974 Brisbane flood. The final vessel built at Kangaroo Point was the oil rig Southern Cross in 1976. In total, the yard constructed 81 ships between 1940 and its closure in 1976. The company later operated as Evans Deakin Industries, generally abbreviated to EDI, and expanded its industrial portfolio through acquisitions. In 1980 it acquired Walkers Limited, a Maryborough manufacturer of railway rolling stock. In July 1996 it purchased locomotive manufacturer Clyde Engineering. These transactions broadened EDI’s role in Australian rail and heavy engineering. In March 2001, Evans Deakin Industries was acquired by Downer & Company, and the combined business was renamed Downer EDI. The original Evans Deakin company therefore ceased to exist as an independent enterprise, although its industrial legacy continued within the successor group. The former Kangaroo Point shipyard remained vacant for several years after closure before being redeveloped in 1988 as Dockside, a hotel and apartment precinct. One dry dock was retained as a marina, and a monument at Captain Burke Park commemorates the shipbuilding site. In 2019, Evans Deakin was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in recognition of its contribution to Queensland’s economy through heavy engineering, construction and shipbuilding over nearly a century.

Evans Deakin and Company was founded in Brisbane in 1910 by Daniel Edward Evans and Arthur Joseph Deakin. Its initial business supplied engineering equipment, and the enterprise acquired its first workshop in 1913. During its early decades, it developed expertise in metalworking, fabrication and industrial construction. Its pre-war and interwar work included the production of around 300 railway wagons for Queensland Government Railways, the manufacture of steel elements used in the Story Bridge and the introduction of oxy-acetylene and electric-arc welding methods to Queensland industry. The company entered shipbuilding at the beginning of the Second World War. It took over the Queensland Government lease of Moar’s Slipway at Kangaroo Point on the Brisbane River, beside Cairns Street, and expanded the site for military and merchant-vessel construction. The first vessel announced for the yard was Rocklea, a 1,200-ton oil-fuel lighter built for the Royal Australian Navy. It incorporated pumps intended to speed the refuelling of warships. The Kangaroo Point facility went on to construct a varied fleet, including eleven Bathurst-class corvettes, a Bay-class frigate, several Attack-class patrol boats and four A-class cargo steamships. Its output also included trawlers, bulk carriers, tankers and tugs. The yard’s post-war importance was reinforced by construction of the Frank Nicklin Dry Dock. The dock cost approximately A$3.4 million, with A$1.5 million contributed by the Queensland Government, and was officially opened in July 1967 by Queensland Premier Frank Nicklin. Measuring about 800 feet by 115 feet with a depth of 21 feet, it could accommodate vessels of up to 60,000 tons. The facility represented an effort to strengthen Australian shipbuilding capacity at a time when the country’s geographic isolation and changing British involvement in the Far East had highlighted the strategic value of domestic maritime infrastructure. Among the company’s largest projects was Robert Miller, an oil tanker described as the largest ship constructed on the Brisbane River. The vessel was nearly finished when it broke away from its moorings during the 1974 Brisbane flood. The final vessel built at Kangaroo Point was Southern Cross, an oil rig completed in 1976. The shipyard constructed 81 ships between 1940 and its closure in 1976. After remaining unused for several years, the site was redeveloped in 1988 as Dockside, a hotel and apartment complex. One dry dock survived as a marina, while a monument at Captain Burke Park commemorates the former shipyard. Beyond marine construction, the company broadened its industrial base through acquisitions and became Evans Deakin Industries, or EDI. In 1980 it purchased Walkers Limited, the Maryborough manufacturer of railway rolling stock. In July 1996 it acquired Clyde Engineering, a locomotive manufacturer. These transactions positioned EDI as a larger Australian rail and heavy-engineering business. In March 2001, Downer & Company acquired EDI, and the resulting organisation was renamed Downer EDI. This ended Evans Deakin’s independent corporate existence, although its operations and industrial heritage continued through the successor business. In 2019, Evans Deakin was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame. The recognition reflected the company’s contribution to Queensland’s economic and industrial development across almost a century, particularly in heavy engineering, construction and shipbuilding.

1. 2019Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame induction

   The company was inducted in recognition of its contribution to Queensland through heavy engineering, construction and shipbuilding.

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2. 2001Acquired by Downer & Company

   Downer & Company acquired EDI in March, and the merged organisation was renamed Downer EDI.

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3. 1996Clyde Engineering acquired

   EDI acquired locomotive manufacturer Clyde Engineering in July, expanding its rail-manufacturing interests.

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4. 1988Kangaroo Point site redeveloped

   The former shipyard was redeveloped as Dockside, while one dry dock was retained as a marina.

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5. 1980Walkers Limited acquired

   Evans Deakin Industries purchased Walkers Limited, a Maryborough manufacturer of railway rolling stock.

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6. 1976Kangaroo Point shipyard closes

   Southern Cross, an oil rig, became the final vessel constructed at the Kangaroo Point yard.

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7. 1974Robert Miller affected by Brisbane flood

   The oil tanker Robert Miller broke free from its moorings during the Brisbane flood while nearing completion.

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8. 1967Frank Nicklin Dry Dock opened

   A large dry dock at Kangaroo Point was officially opened, enabling the facility to handle vessels of up to 60,000 tons.

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9. 1940Kangaroo Point shipyard begins construction

   Evans Deakin established a shipyard at Kangaroo Point and announced Rocklea, a 1,200-ton oil-fuel lighter for the Royal Australian Navy, as its first vessel.

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10. 1913First workshop acquired

    The company acquired its first workshop, supporting its transition from equipment supply toward direct engineering and fabrication work.

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11. 1910Company founded in Brisbane

    Daniel Edward Evans and Arthur Joseph Deakin established Evans Deakin and Company as an engineering-equipment supplier.

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A Queensland-based heavy-engineering and transport-manufacturing company whose capabilities extended from industrial equipment and structural steelwork to railway equipment and large-scale naval, commercial and offshore vessel construction.

• Military vesselsShipbuilding1940

  The Kangaroo Point yard built vessels for Australian defence requirements during and after the Second World War. Its military output included eleven Bathurst-class corvettes, a Bay-class frigate and several Attack-class patrol boats. The work required large-scale steel fabrication, marine engineering and integration of propulsion, pumping and other ship systems.

• Commercial and service vesselsShipbuilding1940

  Evans Deakin constructed a broad range of non-naval vessels at Kangaroo Point, including A-class cargo steamships, trawlers, bulk carriers, tankers and tugs. The company also built Rocklea, a large oil-fuel lighter for the Royal Australian Navy, and the oil tanker Robert Miller, one of the largest ships constructed on the Brisbane River.

• Railway rolling stockRail equipment

  Rail manufacturing was an important part of the company’s broader engineering portfolio. Evans Deakin produced approximately 300 railway wagons for Queensland Government Railways before later expanding its rolling-stock interests through the 1980 acquisition of Walkers Limited in Maryborough.

• LocomotivesRail equipment1996

  Through the acquisition of Clyde Engineering in 1996, Evans Deakin Industries added locomotive manufacturing to its rail and heavy-engineering activities. This strengthened the group’s position in Australian transport equipment before the 2001 acquisition by Downer & Company.

• Heavy engineering and structural fabricationIndustrial engineering1910

  The company supplied engineering equipment and undertook major fabrication work, including steel components for Brisbane’s Story Bridge. Its development and use of oxy-acetylene and electric-arc welding contributed to the expansion of Queensland’s industrial metalworking capabilities.

• 2001Acquisition by Downer & CompanyM&A

  After operating as Evans Deakin Industries and expanding into rail manufacturing, the company became part of a larger industrial group.

  What changed. Downer & Company acquired EDI in March 2001 and combined the businesses under the name Downer EDI.

  Aftermath. Evans Deakin ceased operating as an independent company, while its industrial and transport activities continued within the successor organisation.

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• 1996Acquisition of Clyde EngineeringM&A

  EDI continued to expand its transport-manufacturing activities and strengthen its capabilities in rail equipment.

  What changed. In July 1996, EDI purchased locomotive manufacturer Clyde Engineering.

  Aftermath. The transaction added locomotive manufacturing to EDI’s portfolio before the company was acquired by Downer & Company.

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• 1980Acquisition of Walkers LimitedM&A

  Evans Deakin Industries sought to broaden its industrial and transport-manufacturing base beyond its established engineering and shipbuilding activities.

  What changed. EDI acquired Walkers Limited, the Maryborough railway rolling-stock manufacturer.

  Aftermath. The acquisition expanded EDI’s presence in Australian rail equipment manufacturing.

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• 2019Evans Deakin inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame

  Evans Deakin was recognised for its long-term contribution to Queensland through heavy engineering, construction and shipbuilding.

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• 2001Evans Deakin Industries acquired by Downer & Company

  Downer & Company acquired Evans Deakin Industries in March 2001. The merged business adopted the name Downer EDI.

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1. Evans Deakin and Company