BESIX Watpac
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Construction, Civil engineering |
| Founded | 1 January 1983 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Founder | Gregory Watkins |
| Headquarters | Brisbane , Australia |
Area served | Australia, Hawaii, Vietnam |
| Owner | Besix |
BESIX Watpac operates as a construction and civil engineering firm based in Australia. Once a publicly traded company on the Australian Securities Exchange, it currently functions as a subsidiary under the ownership of Besix.
History
The company originated in 1983 in Brisbane, Queensland, founded by Gregory Watkins under the name Watkins Pacific. It became publicly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in 1985, adopting the name Watpac. During the 1980s and 1990s, the business grew through acquisitions in Mackay and established new offices on the Gold Coast, as well as in Townsville, Cairns, and Canberra. Additionally, it extended its operations internationally to locations such as Hawaii and Vietnam.
In 2004, Watpac expanded into New South Wales by acquiring Grant Constructions. Further growth occurred with the purchase of Melbourne-based JA Dodd in 2007, followed by JMS Civil & Mining, which had a presence in Adelaide and Perth, in 2008. In 2018, major stakeholder Besix acquired full ownership, resulting in Watpac's removal from the Australian Securities Exchange and its rebranding to BESIX Watpac. Concurrently, the civil and mining division was divested to Remagen Capital.
Notable projects
Among the significant undertakings completed by BESIX Watpac are:
Sponsorships
Between 2017 and 2019, Watpac secured naming rights sponsorship for the Townsville 400 event, thereby boosting its profile within Australia's motorsport industry.