About us
Robert Smith started out as a plumbing apprentice in 1969 in Geelong, VIC where he learned his trade in a vastly different time within the underground utility and civil construction industry. Robert worked for 10 years developing his knowledge and skills to understand the challenges faced by companies and individuals carrying out Utility installation works, and to hone his problem-solving capabilities.
In 1979 he took the decision to work for himself, and R.A. Smith Contracting Pty Ltd (RA Smith) was born. Since then, RA Smith has adapted to the ever-changing landscape within the Australian construction industry to build and maintain an enviable reputation for quality, efficiency and innovation.
Relocate to find opportunities
In the late 1980s, as the market tightened in the lead-up to the recession of the time, Robert made the difficult decision to relocate himself and his family from their Geelong home to Sydney, with the intent to re-establish his business activity where he believed there would be better opportunity to weather the economic storm.
With the benefit of reflection this proved to be a master-stroke as RA Smith quickly built its reputation within the Sydney market delivering projects for major Tier 1 construction companies, and directly for Authority clients.
As times moved forward, RA Smith gained the highest levels of accreditations with Sydney Water Corporation which enabled them to participate as key contractors in some of their most significant network improvement programmes such as Networks Alliance, SewerFix, and the like.
Robert was strongly of the view that he must control his own destiny so the purchase of plant and equipment and directly employing experienced people was an obvious way to enable him to deliver projects fully within his own control.
The next generation
Robert is the father to 2 sons, both of whom found themselves enjoying the benefit of their father having ready access to plant and equipment, developing the skills necessary to operate excavators and other equipment from an early age. When they completed their education, it was an obvious next step to join the family business so Tim and Anthony worked within the crews honing their operating skills as well as learning the complex art of in-ground service installation.
As the years passed, so the sons took a more active part in the daily running of the business activities to the time when Robert finally handed over the reins, and the profound legacy he had built, to allow the second generation to make their mark on the industry.
Tim and Anthony jointly manage RA Smith currently and are excited to look to the future and to expand the footprint and capabilities of the business for the next generation of Smiths to proudly take over in the future.