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.
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
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