Company History

• 1963 - Brian Pitt started his own consulting business (BJ Pitt and Associates) in Devonport, Tasmania. Brian was a civil engineer (the first BE Hons graduate from the University of Tasmania), who spent the early part of his career with the Devonport Marine Board building ferry terminals, wheat silos, breakwaters and other maritime works.
• 1965 - Business restructured to become pitt&sherry when Brian was joined by Clive Sherry, who at that time was Devonport Council's Municipal Engineer with prior experience at state road and bulk water supply authorities.
• 1965-1990 - Together Brian and Clive built an active and innovative civil/structural practice operating from Devonport and with projects across Tasmania and the Bass Strait Islands. Highlights include the engineering elements of Lake Barrington International Rowing Course - hailed by many rowing enthusiasts as amongst the best in the world - and the bolted timber space frame roof at the Devonport Olympic Pool - reportedly the first application of this type in Australia. As partners they had lots of adventures, including surviving at least two forced landings in light planes on the wild west coast and evading a grey nurse shark by hiding behind a rock during an underwater inspection - OH&S had a totally different connotation in those formative days! They worked together for 25 years and were involved at one time or another with most of the building, land development and industrial infrastructure in North West Tasmania.
• 1985 - John Pitt joined the business and opened an office in Launceston, Tasmania.
• 1988 - David Coe joined the Launceston office after arriving from the UK.
• 1990 - Peter Holland joined the company after prior experience with Maunsell Pty Ltd.
• 1991 - Andrew Turner joined the company following a geotechnical engineering career in the UK.
• 1994 - Hobart office opened though acquisition of the Tasmanian operations of CMPS&F Pty Ltd.
• 1995 - Merged with Morgan, Klok and Neilsen with Barry Neilsen joining the business and the range of services expanding to include building surveying.
• 1995 - Won National Telstra and Australian Government Small Business Award (Quality Management category) for businesses with up to 100 staff and $10M turnover.
• 1998 - Secured major Alliance Contract with Tasmanian Department of Transport - effectively securing the majority of technical services work in the land transport sector previously undertaken by this state government agency. pitt&sherry doubled capacity with approximately 30 staff transferring employment.
• 1999 - East Timor office established to assist with the country's reconstruction program. Over 100 projects undertaken over ensuing five year period with over 40 of pitt&sherry's staff gaining experience in this developing country during that time - many of them rating their experience on the program as the highlight of their time with the company.
• 2000 - Established Victorian office at Mornington through acquisition of a building surveying business from a local government authority.
• 2001 - Merged operations with Deco Software Solutions, creating the pitt&sherry IT brand.
• 2001 - Melbourne office established and Victorian business gradually transitioned to this metropolitan base.
• 2007 - Merged operations with RM Baird & Associates Pty Ltd
• 2008 - Merged operations with INCADD Pty Ltd
• 2008 - Merged with Energy Strategies and created Climate Change strategy group with an office in Canberra
• 2009 - Peter Douglas elected as Director
• 2009 - Launceston office moved into new energy efficient offices at Cimitere House
• 2010 - Won the prestigious national BRW Client Choice Award for the Best Consulting Engineering Firm with revenue under $50M per annum
• 2010 - David Conley elected as Director
• 2011 - pitt&sherry were named winner of in the Large Business Sustainability category in the 2011 Tasmanian Awards for Environmental Excellence.
• 2011 - John Pitt, Managing Director, winner of the Tasmanian Business Leaders Awards
• 2011 - Along with our client DB Schenkar Australia, pitt&sherry received a High Commendation in the Product Design and Manufacturing section of the Victorian Engineering Excellence Awards 2011 for the Multi-Model Transportation system for the Waratah Train Project.
• 2011 - pitt&sherry welcomed 13 new shareholders
• 2011 - Melbourne office moved from South Melbourne to Southbank
• 2012 - Merged with RARE Consulting opening offices in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth
• 2012 - Dan O’Toole elected as Director
• 2012 - pitt&sherry together with Grange Resources received the WorkSafe Tasmania Award 2012 for the Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety Issue. Also the winner of 2012 Overall WorkSafe Award.
• 2013 - Finalist in the BRW Client Choice Award 2013