BURTON / The Burton History
The Burton History
1973
John Burton established John R. Burton Contractors in
1973 with three employees, an old backhoe and a grader.
The company’s first contracts were with local councils
upgrading road shoulders from open channel stormwater
to kerb and gutter with stormwater pipes, and then
moving onto public works projects and civil works for
major projects.
(John, Paul and Chris Burton)
1975
In 1975 John Burton formed the Pty. Ltd. company of “John R. Burton Contractors”
which he continued successfully building until 1984 when John Burton was joined by
Josh Lommers in partnership to form Burton Lommers. Burton Lommers employed
approximately 30 people with 20 pieces of earthmoving plant. Around this time,
Paul Burton joined the company working from the ground up while studying for an
Associate Diploma of Engineering, eventually becoming a site foreman.
(John, Paul and Chris Burton)
1988
Burton Lommers continued until 1988 at which time the company was sold to John
Lockyer who eventually changed the name of the company to Lockyer Contracting.
John Burton stayed on for 12-months with John Lockyer through the transition
period. Paul Burton remained with John Lockyer as an estimator until early 1991 at
which time he took a year off to backpack around the world.
John Burton retained the business name John R. Burton Contractors; however, part
of the deal of selling the company was that John Burton could not operate within
Sydney for a period of 5-years.
(John, Paul and Chris Burton)
1990
John Burton established his business within the Hunter Valley in 1990, starting over again with
the purchase of a second hand backhoe and grader. He worked predominantly in the Port
Stephens area, slowly building the company up again by acquiring more plant. Paul Burton
joined his father John in the Port Stephens area in early 1992, working as a project manager
and estimator.
During this time, a number of former clients would contact John Burton requesting that he
price their civil construction jobs in Sydney.
(John, Paul and Chris Burton)
1994
John R. Burton Contractors Pty. Ltd. returned to Sydney in 1994 and operated the business
out of the family home in Strathfield. On returning to Sydney, Chris Burton joined the business
after completing a carpentry apprenticeship with Transfields.
(John, Paul and Chris Burton)
1999
In 1999 the business moved back to Belmore (John Lockyer rented from John Burton) after
John Lockyer closed up shop.
(John, Paul and Chris Burton)
2006
In 2006, through a successful succession plan, John Burton handed the contracting business
over to Paul and Chris and Burton Contractors Pty. Ltd. was formed. In late 2006 the business
relocated from Belmore to Homebush due to the need to expand and provide more
professional offices.
(John, Paul and Chris Burton)
PRESENT
In late 2006 and early 2007 Burton Contractors gained formal international standards
accreditation for Quality Assurance, Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Systems,
and an accreditation with the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) for preferred contractor status
for road works to the value of $20 million.
(John, Paul and Chris Burton)
