Mick Turner's Engineering
In the beginning...
Turner's Engineering started out in life as Mick's Motors in 1954 when proprietor Mick Turner bought a small mechanical business in Nerang. In those days the Gold Coast was a fledgling and population sparse. Mick, using his “A” Grade mechanical knowledge became involved in whatever was around at the time e.g. logging, farm machinery and tractors, gates, hay feeders, water pumps and the like.
As the coast grew the focus changed from rural to industrial. Larger machines were maintained and repaired. The boiler making aspect of the business flourished manufacturing blades, stick rakes and other implements. More staff were employed, some of whom are still with us today including Mick's first apprentice he employed in 1962!
Innovative ...
Chassis extensions, Truck and Ute bodies were manufactured along with the first tilt tray. Boiler makers and water trucks ( the tanks of which were manufactured in the workshop) were hired out to dam sites at Advancetown, Wyvenhoe and Texas.
Contracts were won to manufacture dog tracks at Southport, Townsville and Bundaberg incorporating a new bunny design, starting boxes and gates.
Initiative ...
A favourite challenge of Mick's is to rebuild machines other people would write off such as a Mack R700 diesel with a completely cooked motor and delivered in cardboard boxes! This Mack truck affectionately became known as the "Old Warrior". Also the aptly named "Breastroke", a new 28 tonne crane completely submerged when it fell off a barge.
Change ...
The business outgrew the old premises and in 1980 a new workshop and offices was built on the present site in Spencer Road. Larger earthmoving machines were bought plus a new Mack truck and low loader. Local earthmoving contracts were undertaken.
The fleet kept growing and manufacturing expanded further into excavator attachments, loader buckets and compactor conversions. Turner's Engineering is now the best in the world with Caterpillar even referring conversions to us. A large aluminium ferry “The Kombi Trader” has also been manufactured.
Diversity ...
Plant hire and sales grew from the shortfall in equipment to service the rapid devlopment of the Gold Coast and has gone on to service the burgeoning Mining Industry throughout Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia. The manufacturing facility expanded once again to include buckets for mining and construction equipment, quick hitches and implements, water and service truck modules. It was getting harder to maintain control so Mick decided to include 3 of his sons to assist with the running of the business as the company further diversifies.
All of Mick and Judy's children have an interest in the operation of Turner's Engineering and they have also successfully created their own entities as can be seen on the Services page.
Continuity ...
Today you will still find Mick working hard, keeping everyone on their toes!
