Ward was founded by the late Peter Ward. Operations commenced in March 1973 as Bass Civil Engineering, with deep excavation and shoring contracts in the Sydney CBD. Major projects completed in the 1970s include Westmead Hospital (1974 – 1979) and diversion tunnels in Mangrove Mountain (1978). In 1979, Bass Civil Engineering became Ward Civil Engineering.
In the 1980s, Ward began civil engineering works as the head contractor for numerous Government departments and private clients. In 1980 Ward opened its first Newcastle office serving the surrounding Hunter region of NSW. Major works in the 1980s include Australian Parliament House, Canberra (1984 – 1992), Darling Harbour and Circular Quay (1985 – 1988) and World Square (1987).
During the 1990s, Ward continued as a contractor specialising in civil engineering projects for both private and Government clients, while also expanding its operations to include marine works, remediation and specialist works. Ward completed several high-profile projects during the 1990s, including works at Sydney Olympic Park precinct (1992 – 2000), the Caltex Refinery (1994), Cadia Mine in Orange NSW (1996) and the M5 motorway shafts and roadworks (1999).
By the 2000s, Ward had developed strong capabilities in civil engineering, remediation, ground engineering and plant hire. It was during this decade that the business name was changed to Ward Civil & Environmental Engineering. In this decade Ward also commenced its capabilities in airport works, an area which remains a source of great pride today. A variety of works at Sydney Airport took place from 2001 – 2008. Additional major works undertaken during the 2000s include projects at the ANSTO Reactor at Lucas Heights (2002), Erskine Park for Bluescope Steel (2006), SCG Hill Grandstand (2007), Greystanes SEL Development (2007), Hallett 4 Wind Farm (2009) and Royal North Shore Hospital (2009).
2008 saw the sudden passing of Ward’s founder – Peter Ward. At the time of Peter’s death, Ward had emerged from its Sydney CBD excavation beginnings to become a respected, diversified and multi-faceted civil and environmental engineering service contractor.
This decade saw many high calibre projects completed by Ward, including extensive works at Sydney Airport, numerous road infrastructure and utilities works for Transport for NSW, $75 million worth of enabling works for Transport for NSW on its Parramatta Light Rail project (2018 – 2020), $65 million worth of site preparation works at the St Peters Interchange for the WestConnex project (2015 – 2016) and the $80 million ‘top-down’ bulk excavation of contaminated materials (using an Australian first methodology) for Lendlease as part of its delivery of the Crown Sydney development at Barangaroo (2017 – 2019). In 2018 Ward won the Master Builders Australia National Award (National Civil /Infrastructure Project under $25 million) for its McCarrs Creek Road Upgrade project at Church Point.
The 2020s saw Ward continue to grow its portfolio within the civil infrastructure space, including a key role in Transport for NSW’s Easing Sydney Congestion Program, major infrastructure upgrades at Sydney International Airport and a range of works as part of the Sydney Metro light rail developments. In 2020 Ward Utilities was created as a separate division within Ward, delivering comprehensive, accurate and quality data to clients from the early, investigative stages of major projects, alongside the use of our dry vacuum excavation trucks. In 2020 Ward also introduced the operation of its own in-house traffic management business, thereby adding a further component to Ward’s “whole of project” lifecycle solution for its clients. In 2020, 2021 and 2022 Ward was named the “Large Civil Construction Business of the Year” by the Master Builders Association as part of its National Business Leadership Awards. In partnership with Ventia and AECOM, Ward also now undertakes Special Projects and TAMP works as part of the Sydney Roads Asset Performance (SRAP) Contract for the Parklands Zone of NSW. This includes the maintenance of 849km of roads throughout regional NSW. In 2024 Ward expanded into Queensland, opening an office in Brisbane. With a clear growth plan and a well-defined company strategy building on its history, Ward is looking forward to the next stage of its corporate evolution.
