Our story is one of humble beginnings, hard work, great people and innovative thinking that continues to shape who we are in New Zealand, Australia, and the South Pacific.
The origins of Fletcher date back to the early 1900s in New Zealand with a wooden villa that still stands in Dunedin.
From those humble beginnings, James Fletcher and his brothers started Fletcher Bros Ltd in 1915, starting the journey that has made Fletcher Building, and its brands, a trusted part of many people’s lives today.
It’s important to note that our history and locations are diverse and that many companies in the Fletcher Building group in New Zealand and Australia have beginnings that go back even further than the early 1900s.
Many of these businesses share Fletcher’s humble beginnings, pioneering spirit, and deep commitment to finding innovative ways to meet the needs of their customers.
For example, Higgins, part of our Construction Division, was established by brothers, continuing that values-based, family focus that has remained a constant throughout our entire history.
Stramit, our Australian steel roll-forming business, has recently celebrated 30 years since becoming an incorporated company, but its roots can be dated back to two companies in the 1890s.
Winstone Aggregates, a company in our Concrete Division grew thanks to a strong partnership of brothers. It was founded by William Winstone in 1864 who started with a single coal cart. It is now one of New Zealand's largest aggregates businesses.
The early 1980s saw the creation of Fletcher Challenge, formed by the merger of Fletcher Holdings, Tasman Pulp & Paper and Challenge Corporation Ltd. This resulted in rapid expansion, both internationally via Asia, Europe, Australia, and the UK and through the acquisition of diverse interests in forestry, paper, pulp, meat processing, gas distribution, and fisheries businesses. Including in Australia when the business acquired Watt Hodlgins Ltd, on of the largest construction companies in Australia.
By the 1990s, the focus firmly came back to the core business of building, building products, and home environments, leading to the divestment of many non-core businesses.
In 2001, Fletcher Challenge was split into a number of focused, specialist businesses across Australia and New Zealand with the parent company, Fletcher Building Ltd, listing on the New Zealand stock exchange and Australian stock exchange.
At the same time, Fletcher Building expanded further into Australia, including acquiring Australia's Laminex, Australian-based Tasman Building Products Pty Ltd, and Australian building group Amatek Holdings Ltd.
Since the millennium, Fletcher Building has been expanding further through strategic merger and acquisition activity in New Zealand, Australia, and globally – which has further strengthened the core building business.
Now Fletcher Building is made up of six divisions covering production, manufacturing and construction. Check out our website to find out more about Fletcher Building
https://fletcherbuilding.com/
(left) Penrose industrial area, c1955; (right) Fletcher Kauri premises, McNab St, Penrose, c1961.
Photos courtesy of the Fletcher Trust Archives.
