Evans Deakin and Company

Evans Deakin & Company

Company type	Private (historically)
Industry	Engineering, shipbuilding
Founded	1910 in Brisbane, Australia
Founder	Daniel Edward Evans, Arthur Joseph Deakin
Defunct	2001
Fate	Merged with Downer & Company to form Downer EDI
Headquarters	Brisbane , Australia
Products	Engineering machinery, railway wagons, steel components, ships and vessels

Evans Deakin & Company was a prominent Australian firm specializing in engineering and shipbuilding. In recognition of its nearly 100 years of impactful contributions to Queensland's industrial landscape—particularly in heavy engineering, construction, and maritime manufacturing—it was honored in 2019 with induction into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.

History

Established in 1910 in Brisbane by Daniel Edward Evans alongside Arthur Joseph Deakin, the enterprise initially operated as a supplier of engineering machinery, securing its inaugural workshop by 1913.

Subsequently rebranded as Evans Deakin Industries (EDI), the corporation grew through strategic acquisitions, including the 1980 purchase of Maryborough-based rolling stock producer Walkers Limited and the July 1996 acquisition of locomotive manufacturer Clyde Engineering.

In March 2001, EDI merged with Downer & Company following its acquisition, resulting in the formation of Downer EDI.

During the period between World War I and World War II, Evans Deakin produced approximately 300 railway wagons for the Queensland Government Railways, supplied steel elements for the construction of the Story Bridge, and pioneered the introduction of oxy-acetylene and electric arc welding techniques within Queensland.

Kangaroo Point shipyard

At the onset of World War II, Evans Deakin took over the Queensland Government’s lease of Moar's Slipway—located beside Cairns Street () on the Brisbane River at Kangaroo Point—a property then under Brisbane City Council ownership. This location was developed into a shipbuilding facility dedicated to military and commercial vessels. The yard's inaugural project, completed in January 1940, was a 1,200-ton oil fuel lighter for the Royal Australian Navy, named Rocklea. Designed to expedite refueling operations for naval ships, this vessel cost .

A significant upgrade to the site included constructing the Frank Nicklin Dry Dock at a cost of , supported by a grant from the Queensland Government. Measuring long, wide, and deep, this dock could accommodate ships weighing up to 60,000 tons. Queensland Premier Frank Nicklin officially inaugurated it in July 1967, highlighting its role in strengthening Australia's shipbuilding capabilities amid changing global strategic landscapes.

Among the largest vessels built on the Brisbane River was the oil tanker Robert Miller. Nearly finished when it was swept loose during the 1974 Brisbane flood, this ship marked a significant milestone. The final vessel constructed at Kangaroo Point was the oil rig Southern Cross in 1976.

From its establishment in 1940 until its closure in 1976, the shipyard completed 81 ships. These included eleven s, one Bay-class frigate, multiple , and four A-class cargo steamships. Additionally, trawlers, bulk carriers, tankers, and tugboats were among its outputs.

Following a period of disuse, the site underwent redevelopment in 1988 into Dockside, a complex featuring hotel and residential apartments while preserving one dry dock as a marina. A commemorative monument dedicated to Evans Deakin is situated within Captain Burke Park near Kangaroo Point’s tip (), positioned northward of where the original shipyard stood.

External links

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