Kennards Self Storage

Kennards Self Storage is a privately owned self-storage business serving customers in Australia and New Zealand. Its origins are linked to the Kennards family's equipment-hire activities, which began in Bathurst in 1948 when Walter Kennard established W Kennard Agencies. The earlier business sold and represented equipment and machinery brands, while also acting as an agent for companies including Caltex, Hillman, Humber and Lightburn. The idea of renting equipment rather than requiring customers to buy it helped establish the broader Kennards hire-business model. The storage operation emerged from that equipment-hire network. In 1973, Kennards Hire opened what is described as Australia's first self-storage facility at the rear of its Moorebank branch in Sydney. The operation initially used the Kennards Mini Storage name and was renamed Easi-Stor in 1979. The company expanded beyond Sydney in the 1980s, including the purchase and redevelopment of a derelict wool-store building in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, into Queensland's first self-storage centre. Nine additional properties were acquired during that decade in Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane. A major organizational change occurred in 1991, when brothers Andy and Neville Kennard divided the family business. Andy retained the equipment-hire operation, while Neville took responsibility for the storage business, which was renamed Kennards Self Storage. This separation created the modern self-storage brand as a distinct family-owned enterprise. The company continued expanding during the 1990s, opening 14 further storage centres and entering Victoria for the first time. Leadership subsequently passed to the next generation. Sam Kennard became chief executive officer in 1994, at the age of 24, succeeding his father Neville. His brothers Walter Kennard Jr and James Kennard have also been described as shareholders. The family ownership structure has remained an important part of the company's identity and governance. During the early 2000s, Kennards added specialist wine-storage locations, with the first of a network that eventually reached 20 sites opening during that period. In 2004, the company substantially increased its property portfolio through the acquisition of 24 Millers Self Storage properties for a reported A$220 million. The transaction was completed through a 50:50 joint venture with Valad Property Group. Kennards later became the sole operator of the Millers portfolio in 2008. The brand expanded internationally, in regional terms, by entering New Zealand in 2007. Its business model combines conventional self-storage units with related storage formats and specialist facilities, including wine storage. By 2025, the company was reported to operate 112 facilities across Australia and New Zealand. Kennards Self Storage remains distinct from Kennards Hire, although both businesses share the Kennards family heritage.

Kennards Self Storage developed from the Kennards family's equipment-hire activities. Walter Kennard founded W Kennard Agencies in Bathurst in 1948, initially selling machinery and representing several industrial and automotive brands. The family's experience with renting equipment helped lead to the creation of a storage business alongside Kennards Hire. In 1973, the company established a self-storage facility behind its Moorebank, Sydney branch. This operation was initially called Kennards Mini Storage and adopted the Easi-Stor name in 1979. Expansion followed during the 1980s. A disused wool store in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, was acquired and converted into Queensland's first self-storage centre, and nine more properties were purchased in Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane. The storage division became a separate family business in 1991. Andy and Neville Kennard divided the group's operations, with Andy retaining Kennards Hire and Neville taking the storage business. The storage company adopted the Kennards Self Storage name after the split. Fourteen additional centres opened during the 1990s, including the brand's first Victorian facility. Sam Kennard succeeded his father Neville as chief executive in 1994. He was 24 at the time. His brothers Walter Kennard Jr and James Kennard were also shareholders, reinforcing the business's continuing family-ownership character. The company broadened its offering in the early 2000s through specialist wine storage. In 2004, it acquired 24 Millers Self Storage properties in a transaction reported at A$220 million. The acquisition was undertaken in a 50:50 joint venture with Valad Property Group. Kennards became the sole operator of the Millers business in 2008. Kennards entered New Zealand in 2007, extending its operations beyond Australia while remaining focused on the regional self-storage market. By 2025, the company was reported to have 112 facilities across Australia and New Zealand. Its portfolio includes standard personal and business storage, larger storage formats and specialist wine-storage sites. The Kennards Self Storage business remains separate from Kennards Hire, despite their common family origin.

1. 2025Reported 112-facility network

   The company was reported to operate 112 facilities across Australia and New Zealand.

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2. 2008Sole operation of Millers portfolio

   Kennards became the sole operator of the Millers Self Storage business.

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3. 2007Entry into New Zealand

   Kennards Self Storage expanded into the New Zealand market.

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4. 2004Millers Self Storage acquisition

   Kennards added 24 Millers Self Storage properties through a reported A$220 million transaction carried out with Valad Property Group.

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5. 1994Sam Kennard became chief executive

   Sam Kennard succeeded Neville Kennard as chief executive officer at age 24.

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6. 1991Kennards businesses separated

   Andy and Neville Kennard divided the family business, with Neville taking the storage operation and renaming it Kennards Self Storage.

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7. 1981Queensland expansion

   A former wool store in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, was redeveloped as Queensland's first self-storage centre.

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8. 1979Easi-Stor name adopted

   The original Kennards Mini Storage operation was renamed Easi-Stor.

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9. 1973First self-storage facility opened

   Kennards opened a self-storage facility at the rear of its Moorebank, Sydney equipment-hire branch.

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10. 1948Kennards family business established

    Walter Kennard founded W Kennard Agencies in Bathurst, establishing the business lineage from which Kennards Self Storage later developed.

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A family-owned self-storage operator positioned around accessible storage facilities, long-term operating experience, property investment and a broad network across Australia and New Zealand.

• Self-storage unitsStorage facilities1973

  The company's core offering is rental storage space for personal, household and general commercial belongings. Facilities developed from the original Moorebank site into a multi-location network serving customers in Australia and New Zealand.

• Business and commercial storageBusiness storage

  Kennards provides storage capacity for businesses and other commercial users that need space for stock, equipment, records or operational items. This extends the brand beyond household moves and makes its facilities part of customers' wider property and logistics arrangements.

• Wine storageSpecialist storage

  The company developed specialist wine-storage locations during the early 2000s. The wine-storage network became a distinct extension of the standard self-storage proposition and eventually reached 20 locations.

• 2004Acquisition of Millers Self Storage propertiesM&A

  Kennards sought to expand its storage-property portfolio.

  What changed. The company acquired 24 Millers Self Storage properties in a 50:50 joint venture with Valad Property Group.

  Aftermath. Kennards later became the sole operator of the Millers business in 2008.

  Reported acquisition value. A$220 million (2004)

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• 1991Separation of the hire and storage businessesStrategy

  The Kennards family had developed both equipment hire and self-storage activities under a common business heritage.

  What changed. Andy Kennard retained the equipment-hire operation, while Neville Kennard took control of the storage business and renamed it Kennards Self Storage.

  Aftermath. The split established Kennards Self Storage as a distinct family-owned storage company and allowed it to pursue its own property-expansion strategy.

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• 2025Kennards Self Storage reaches 112 facilities across Australia and New Zealand

  Reference material described the company as operating 112 storage facilities across its Australian and New Zealand network.

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• 2008Kennards becomes sole operator of Millers facilities

  Following the 2004 acquisition of Millers Self Storage through a joint venture, Kennards assumed sole operating responsibility for the properties.

  M&A
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• 2007Kennards enters New Zealand

  The self-storage business expanded beyond Australia into the New Zealand market.

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1. Kennards Self Storage