Thiess Holdings Ltd

The initial public offering of 450,000 shares in Thiess Holdings sells on the Sydney and Brisbane stock exchanges.

Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme

Thiess Holdings is awarded the Tooma Dam and Tooma-Tumut Tunnel contracts on the Snowy Scheme, becoming the first Australian company to be awarded a major contract on the project.

Tunnelling records

In the winter of 1959, Thiess sets a world tunnelling record on the Snowy Mountains Scheme’s Tooma-Tumut Tunnel, excavating 526 feet in a six-day week.

Following the success of the Toyota LandCruiser on the Snowy Mountains Scheme, Thiess secures the Australian franchise. This marked the start of long partnership with the Japanese car manufacturers through Thiess Toyota Pty Ltd.

Beef Roads

Thiess commences work on the Beef Roads Program to haul cattle through the remote reaches of Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia. At the time, the project is the biggest single road-making scheme in Australia’s history.

NZ Hydro Scheme

Thiess Holdings is awarded its first civil engineering contract outside Australia - the building of a tunnel and shaft for the Hydro Electric Scheme on Lake Manapouri in New Zealand.

Kianga & Moura Coal

A joint venture company, Thiess Peabody Mitsui Coal Pty Ltd is formed to operate the Kianga and Moura mines and export Queensland’s first coking coal to Japan.

Rail Expansion

Thiess expands its rail capabilities taking on larger rail jobs and completing an increased scope of work, from earthworks through to the laying of the track, including the Kwinana to Kalgoorlie line in Western Australia.

Pastoral Division and Talbingo Dam

Thiess diversifies its activities and acquires two cattle station properties or approximately one million acres in the Kimberleys

The final and biggest contract on the Snowy Mountains Scheme – the Talbingo Dam and Tumut 3 Power Station commences.

SE Asian operations commence

Operations commence in South East Asia through a partnership arrangement with Petrosea. One of Thiess Petrosea’s first projects is the Sembawang dry dock in Singapore, which today remains one of the largest dry docks in the world.

Darmouth Dam

Thiess Holdings constructs the Dartmouth Dam on Victoria’s Mitta Mitta River. This was Australia’s largest dam at the time and included a diversion tunnel, intake shaft, valve chamber and access tunnel.

Snowy completed

Thiess completes the Talbingo Dam and Tumut 3 Power Station ahead of schedule, bringing the 25-year construction of the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme to an end.