Fraser Thomas Celebrates 50 Years

Fraser Thomas Celebrates 50 Years

As 2019 marks the Fraser Thomas Group’s 50th Anniversary, we take a look back at how far the Fraser Thomas Group has come in the last 50 years.  

Our history begins with the founding of the Fraser Thomas Group, trading as a multi-discipline consultancy in 1969 following the merger of two existing firms. These firms were Fraser & Thomas, an engineering practice based in Papatoetoe, and Jackman, Gunman & Partners, a surveying company based in Otahuhu. Jackman, Gunman & Partners’ origins stretch back to 1947, with the establishment of a small surveying company in Manurewa by Ray Jackman.

Having acquired the property at 152 Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe, initially a free-standing house, Fraser, Thomas, Gunman, Shaw & Partners remained at these premises following the merger, and over a period of years redeveloped the property, initially to the front, and later to the rear of the house, to form the offices that were used until March 2017 when the office relocated to Highbrook.

In 1973, Fraser Thomas opened a Northland Office in Kaikohe following a demand for provision of services in the Northland Region. Further demand also led to an additional office opening in Paihia in 1982, with staff from Kaikohe later being redeployed to this scenic location.  The Paihia office was closed in March 2015 due to a downturn of work in the area.

In the 1980’s, Fraser Thomas expanded its services to include Geotechnical Engineering, and then further, with the establishment of the International Department, into Asia and the Pacific. Fraser Thomas International has since maintained a long and prosperous relationship with agencies such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank in Asia and the Pacific since the late 1980’s.

In 1991, Fraser Thomas acquired a medium sized surveying company, Barry Satchell Consultants which was operating from an Epsom location. This additional office, has allowed the company to directly service the Central Auckland market and to expand the services of Barry Satchell to include both Civil Engineering and planning services to complement the existing Surveying services offered. This office relocated in 2007 to a Dominion Road location and today can be found at New North Road, Eden Terrace.

During 2010-11 Canterbury experienced a horrific series of earthquakes starting with a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in September 2010. In response to these earthquakes Fraser Thomas provided consulting services, initially to assist the EQC and insurance companies in their earthquake damage assessment works. The initial involvement was on a fly-in/fly-out basis. Eventually a permanent office was set up in Christchurch in February 2013. Since then the office has grown to 16 permanent employees, offering engineering and land surveying services to our South Island clients.

Fraser Thomas has come a long way since it was formed in 1969, and today is able to offer a full complement of services, including Civil, Geotechnical, Structural and Environmental Engineering, as well as Surveying and Planning, Contaminated Land Management and Asbestos Building Surveys. The longevity of the company is a testament to the quality of the service we have provided and shall continue to provide to our clients on projects both within New Zealand and Overseas. With the recent opening of our Napier Premises, there are plans to continue to grow in New Zealand and see where the next 50 years may take the Fraser Thomas Group.