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 Murray
& Roberts celebrates 100 years as a leading South African business
this year.
As it moves into its second century, Murray & Roberts is transforming
from a company that has traditionally relied on the mobilisation of
assets and resources to one that will leverage its knowledge and experience
to deliver world class solutions.
Over the past 100 years, Murray & Roberts has become an integral
part of the fabric of southern African society, having produced numerous
landmarks in roads, bridges and harbours, commercial, retail and entertainment
centres and mining, industrial and manufacturing facilities.
For more than 30 years, Murray & Roberts has built a solid reputation
in the international environment, serving the industrial, mining,
construction, tank container and automotive industries worldwide.
Murray & Roberts is the result of a merger in 1967 between the
Cape based Murray & Stewart and the Transvaal based Roberts Construction
company, which created South Africa's leading engineering contracting
company. Murray & Stewart had been established in 1902 by John
Murray and James Stewart – two Scots who came to South Africa
to explore opportunities – while Roberts Construction was started
as a partnership between John Murray's son, Douglas Murray, and the
entrepreneurial Roberts brothers, Douglas and Andrew.
The histories of these two companies were strongly influenced by their
rapid response to the changing economic fortunes of South Africa.
Much of their early growth as building contractors was generated by
expansion in the motor and wool growing industries during the 1920's
and the development of the mining industry, which fuelled the construction
of roads, railways and harbours, linking the mining cities of Johannesburg
and Kimberley to the rest of the world.
While Douglas Murray diversified by market and product, particularly
into the automotive component and specialist manufacturing sectors,
the Roberts brothers diversified geographically.
In 1948, Roberts Construction Holdings became a public company and
in 1951 it was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange with the
Roberts brothers and Douglas Murray retaining 66%.
Innovation has always been one of the most distinguishing characteristics
of Murray & Roberts.
The company built the world's first concrete mining headgear and the
prestressed concrete version that is commonly used today. It replaced
structural steel with concrete in the boiler house structures of thermal
power stations, significantly improving their efficiency.
Murray & Roberts also established the expertise, design and management
capability to meet the stringent demands of the nuclear industry for
safety, quality and risk management.
More recently, Murray & Roberts has integrated design, finance
and procurement in its implementation of major projects to deliver
sustainable economic value to customers.
As Murray & Roberts enters a new era in its history, it retains
the best of its innovative past and moves forward into a very different
and challenging future.
Above left: Douglas Roberts and Douglas Murray.
Above right: John Murray with Murray & Stewart Eastern Province’s
first lorry in front of the first office. |
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Carlton Centre,
Johannesburg
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Aviation fuel facility jetty
at Chek Lap Kok airport,
Hong Kong |
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Bloukrans Gorge Bridge,
Western Cape |
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Burj al Arab hotel, Dubai |
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100 Years of Innovation