Clough
The origins of Clough can be traced back to 1919 in Perth when builders J.O. Clough and Son laid the foundation of what would become a pioneering company. From the 1950s to the 1970s, Clough experienced substantial growth and diversification. In 1964, the joint venture BAM Clough was established in collaboration with the Royal BAM Group, specializing in major jetty and near-shore marine projects in Australia and Papua New Guinea. The company's expansion was driven by civil engineering and infrastructure contracts during Western Australia's Pilbara iron ore boom, and in 1965, Clough successfully undertook its first oil-and-gas project on Barrow Island.
During the following decades, Clough expanded its activities in the Middle East, Indonesia, and Africa. Branch offices were established in Brisbane, Bangkok, and Houston. In 1984, the acquisition of the Petrosea Group of Companies (divested in 2009) provided a solid foundation for further growth in the Southeast Asian region. In 1998, Clough became a publicly listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), with the Clough family relinquishing their ownership in 2007.
Around 1991, Clough Engineering acquired Noyes Brothers, and the company operated under the name Noyes-Clough until 2002 when that branch was purchased by Project Solutions Australia. In the 1990s, Clough AMEC, a joint venture with Amec, was established to deliver brownfield asset support to Australasia's oil and gas sector.
In 1997 Clough Engineering was the overall winner of the engineering excellence award for their project: "East Spar Development" alongside Western Mining Corporation and Kvaerner RJ Brown.
In 2008, Clough sponsored the construction of a First Year Centre for engineering students at the University of Western Australia, which opened its doors in 2010. This initiative provided students with a dedicated space to meet, collaborate in groups, and work on industry projects, thanks to the generosity of former chairman and managing director Harold Clough, who had long supported the university.
In November 2013, after being a shareholder since 2004, Murray & Roberts acquired full ownership of Clough, leading to its delisting from the ASX. In February 2019, Clough expanded its operations by acquiring Saulsbury's Gulf Coast downstream and chemical business unit in Houston, Texas.
| Year Awarded | Project |
|---|---|
| 1955 | National Mutual Building, St Georges Terrace |
| 1957 | Narrows Bridge Construction Project was completed in two years |
| 1970 | Main highway from Medan to Sumarta, Indonesia |
| 1996 | Graham Farmer Freeway, Perth |
| 2010 | PNG LNG and condensate offloading jetty, Gulf of Papua |
| 2021 | Waitsia Gas Project Stage 2 development, Western Australia |
In 2022, Clough faced financial distress and was at risk of collapse. Despite a proposed takeover by WeBuild falling through, Murray & Roberts placed the company under administration to protect its future. Ultimately, in February 2023, WeBuild successfully acquired Clough, ensuring the preservation of its legacy and expertise within the industry.
The Clough history book 1919 - 2019 is available here.
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