Company History

From small beginnings in Timaru 50 years ago, Ranger have developed into one of the regions most capable and successful main contractors.
There have been many significant milestones along the way.

• 1865:  
  Thomas Andrews & Son Ltd begin providing traditional plastering services in Christchurch.
• 1920s: 
  The company expands into terrazzo production.
• 1940s: 
  A government contract to provide thousands of terrazzo sink surrounds for state houses is secured  Many of these benches are still in use today and are becoming collector’s items.
• 1958:  
  JH Wallace Ltd is formed in Timaru undertaking solid plastering and tiling work.
• 1971:
     RB Jenkins Building Ltd begins offering construction and painting services to the residential and light commercial sectors.
• 1970s: 
  JH Wallace Ltd becomes a founding member of the Nuplex Contractors Federation and begins applying Nuplex industrial floor toppings.
• 1993: 
  Jenkins Wallace & Co Ltd is formed by the incorporation of RB Jenkins Ltd into JH Wallace Ltd.  The company’s portfolio now includes residential and education work, plastering, painting and decorating, specialist finishes, and floor toppings.
• 2001:
  Significant growth in the construction business leads to a re-structuring into three separate entities – Ranger Construction Ltd, Ranger Applied Finishes Ltd, and Ranger Holdings Ltd.  The new divisional structure is a necessary result of Ranger’s increasing status and capabilities.  
• 2005:
  Ranger purchases Thomas Andrews and Son Ltd and establishes the Canterbury division of Ranger Applied Finishes in Christchurch.
• 2005:
    Ranger Construction wins the Commercial Builder Of  The Year Award for the Lactose Plant project at Fonterra Clandeboye.
• 2006:  
  Ranger Applied Finishes wins the Top New Zealand Nuplex Contractor award for the third time since 1994.
• 2008:
  Two Ranger Construction projects are currently entered in the Registered Master Builders Commercial Project Awards.  

Company History (2)

From humble beginnings in Timaru more than 50 years ago Ranger has developed into one of the region's most capable and successful main contractors. However Rangers roots actually reach all the way back to 1865 in Christchurch when Thomas Andrews & Son Ltd began providing traditional plastering services to a burgeoning building industry.

During the 1920s the company expanded into producing terrazzo, a highly polished product once described as "the flooring for Kings and Queens". In the 1940s a lucrative government contract to provide thousands of terrazzo sink surrounds to state houses was secured. Many of these benches are still in use today and are becoming collector's items, a testament to both the durability of terrazzo and the craftsmanship used to create it.

JH Wallace Ltd was formed 100 miles down the road in Timaru in 1958 undertaking solid plastering and tiling work throughout the South Canterbury region. Growing steadily in both size and reputation over the next 20 years they eventually became a founding member of the Nuplex Contractors Federation and began applying Nuplex industrial floor toppings in the 1970's. Another Timaru company, RB Jenkins Building Ltd began offering construction and painting services to the residential and light commercial sectors in 1971.

In 1993 Jenkins Wallace & Co Ltd was formed by the incorporation of RB Jenkins Ltd into JH Wallace Ltd. The new company's portfolio now included residential and education work, plastering, traditional painting and decorating, specialist finishes, and floor toppings.
Significant growth in the construction business saw the firm re-structured into three separate entities and in 2001 Ranger Construction Ltd, Ranger Applied Finishes Ltd, and Ranger Holdings Ltd were formed. The new divisional structure was a necessary result of Ranger's growing status and capabilities within the construction sector and a means of improving the operational efficiency of the company.

In 2005 Ranger began looking further afield and purchased Thomas Andrews And Son Ltd which became the Canterbury Division of Ranger Applied Finishes Ltd. With renewed interest in terrazzo as a contemporary design statement the Tanson Terrazzo brand is proving to be a valuable addition to the Ranger stable of products. 2005 also saw Ranger Construction win the respected Commercial Builder Of The Year Award for the Fonterra Clandeboye Lactose Plant project. The award was seen as apt recognition of Ranger's longstanding involvement in the development of this facility. The following year Ranger Applied Finishes were named the Top New Zealand Nuplex Contractor for the third time since 1994.

Two recently completed Ranger Construction projects are currently entered in the 2008 Registered Master Builder Commercial Project Awards.