About Us

The ABL Story

It all started on 1 November 1961 - the day when a young born-and-bred Invercargill builder named Graeme Hill first opened the doors of his own company, G.R. Hill Ltd. Hill had a strong desire to be a builder from an early age, and still derives 'huge satisfaction' from the look and feel of a finished product.

As an apprentice, he eagerly learned all aspects of his trade: first from Fred Boylon, a local builder specializing in residential and school construction, and then at the large construction firm of Richardson’s, giving Hill a good grounding in the industry.

Throughout the 1960s, G.R. Hill Ltd.’s reputation grew with each project it completed until it became synonymous with quality craftsmanship, a commitment to getting the job done on time, and a strong team work ethic.

Even in those early years, it was clear that team performance was important to the company.

“We’ve ingrained it in our staff culture,” says Hill. “It all comes back to team effort, and we do our best to make sure that people feel a part of that team.”

The company began winning contracts for larger and more complicated projects, including the secondary buildings of the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter at Bluff, so that by 1972, it was clear the company needed to expand; Hill went into partnership with another Invercargill builder, Steve Farrant, and Amalgamated Builders Limited was born.

More changes came in 1980, when Hill purchased the shareholding majority. He carefully steered ABL through the lean years of the late 80s and early 90s by 'tackling any job coming', from wharves to wool sheds. A very good relationship with large agricultural services provider Wrightson NMA created work in the Southland region.

Trading under this corporate structure continued until 1994 when Amalgamated Builders Ltd expanded again to include Pat Burke (Queenstown) and Bruce Middleton (Invercargill). The recent boom time in the NZ construction industry has been an opportunity for ABL, and two more shareholders and directors have now come on board: Richard Johnston (Dunedin) in 2004, and, a year later, Karsten Pedersen (Queenstown) joined the top management team.

It’s a structure that Hill believes is very beneficial to the company, keeping each director focused on developing business in his particular region. All five directors, says Hill, bring a range of industry experience and competencies to ABL - Hill, Burke and Middleton worked their way up through the trades while Pedersen and Johnston were both Quantity Surveyors - so that the firm has the expertise and leadership needed for any building project.

As for Hill, he can reflect with pride on the success of the company he began 50 years ago, a company built not so much on some grand scheme or overweening ambition, but on the quiet satisfaction in a job well done.